Some teachers seem to revel in drama and making life harder for their colleagues. They love victimhood and high status. They believe that they’re the greatest educator since Anne Sullivan, yet have no idea the destruction they cause to school climate and culture. To … Read more
First, a definition. Although you may hear defenders spout limits justifying its use, narration is any talking by the teacher while students are meant to be performing a task that was asked of them. Typically, it sounds like reminding. But it can also be … Read more
Here at SCM, we believe building influential relationships with students is critical—for many reasons. Not the least of which is that it makes everything, especially managing behavior, easier. Which is why we’ve gone to lengths in our books to break down in the simplest … Read more
Your classroom management plan is set in stone. There is no going back. There is no negotiation, no capitulation, no surrender. It is. And will remain. Your follow through is a promise that comforts, protects, and holds accountable those who interfere with the right … Read more
Teachers giving grades students haven’t earned is rampant, staggering in its increasing frequency. Why is this happening? A few reasons. First, the pandemic and accompanying learning loss has added pressure on teachers to get students caught up. This has caused the standards for earning … Read more
How you present yourself to your students matters. The way you dress, speak, and move has an impact on how they view you and thus how they behave in your class. Here at SCM, we’ve covered each of these areas in previous articles. But … Read more
Sagging pants are a problem in the classroom. They’re a problem because they bring an attitude of rebelliousness. You’ve seen it yourself. When a student sags their pants, they behave differently than when they don’t sag their pants. “But Michael, it’s an expression! It’s … Read more
This is my 700th article. Will there be a party here at SCM? A parade perhaps? Maybe a speech about me, me, and more me and all the people who made me who I am. Yay, aren’t I amazing! Oh, the horror. The truth … Read more