One of the tenets of SCM is to give only worthy praise. What is worthy? Here at SCM we define it as work or performance greater than an individual student has done before. In this way, you ensure that it provides the student helpful … Read more
If you’re a regular reader of SCM, then you’ll no doubt take your time teaching your classroom management plan. You’ll model what is and isn’t okay. You’ll provide examples. You’ll shore up gray areas and show your new class what not to do. This … Read more
To be an effective teacher in this day and age, you’ve got to be mentally tough. You’ve got to be able to say no. You’ve got to be able to follow your classroom management plan as written and maintain a calm disposition. If you’ve … Read more
Just letting you know up front that this isn’t easy. Every fiber of your body will scream “No, I can’t do it!” But it works. In fact, it can be transformational. It can be the one thing keeping you from becoming the teacher you … Read more
You can call them myths or fallacies or misconceptions. But they are ensconced in the teaching psyche. They persist year after year despite our efforts here at SCM. So with this article—and perhaps more to come—we’ll set the record straight. What follows are three … Read more
There is a simple thing you can do right now to ensure better classroom management next school year. It only takes a few minutes. The way it works is to list the five most disruptive, annoying, and stressful misbehaviors you witnessed last school year. … Read more
Here at SCM, we’re used to hearing horror stories from teachers. But the sheer number of emails we’ve received this past school year is like nothing we’ve ever seen. Students were different. There is no doubt about it. How? Just more of everything: Aggression … Read more
Grading yourself post school year enables you to view your classroom management performance objectively. It provides clarity and self-awareness. It allows you to hone in on your weaknesses and reflect on how they can become strengths. What follows is a report card based on … Read more