Getting students to focus longer than a TikTok video is a bigger challenge now than ever before. But there is a way. It’s a five-step strategy that actually trains students to concentrate for extended periods of time. Applied daily, it will dramatically expand the … Read more
The typical advice is that time-out should mirror in minutes the age of your students. So, for example, if a student is eight years old, then time-out should be eight minutes long. It’s also common to hear recommendations for even shorter time periods. Two … Read more
One of the biggest mistakes a teacher can make is to have an emotional reaction to misbehavior. This can play out in a number of ways. Glaring Lecturing Arguing Berating Brooding Grumbling Threatening Scowling Pacing Using sarcasm In other words, you show displeasure in … Read more
It’s common for teachers to ask students to apologize for their misbehavior. It makes sense. Students should offer amends for their actions. The very act of saying sorry—which is difficult for many people—can provide a lot of satisfaction. It can feel as if it … Read more
You notice movement out of the corner of your eye. You hear but don’t see a disruption. You sense misbehavior happening behind your back. But you don’t know who did it. If you’re like most teachers, you spin around and glare. You ask who … Read more
So you give a student a direction or enforce a consequence and they respond with back-talk. “I didn’t do anything!” “Whatever you say, duh.” “That’s so stupid!” Not much gets under a teacher’s skin more. It’s clear disrespect that also challenges your authority in … Read more
There is a way to be more consistent that doesn’t require you to be more disciplined. It doesn’t take extra brain power. It isn’t stressful or hard to do. In fact, it’s easy and comes naturally if you do just one thing. So what … Read more
Most teachers respond to losing control too late. They wait until they can’t even get their class quiet and seated before making changes. But trying to gain control of an already out-of-control class is exceptionally difficult. It takes expert knowledge, skill, and a wholesale … Read more