It’s tough to be a teacher right now. Pressure from all sides. More and more and more on your plate. Misbehavior and disrespect on the rise. It’s no wonder that in a recent survey half of all teachers are thinking about quitting the profession. … Read more
The culture of teaching says that you must support, support, support. You must do more, give more, talk more. So when you notice a student who you know has the ability just sitting there, producing zero work, you get nervous. You pace, tap your … Read more
It’s a trend, and not just on Pinterest and Instagram. Perfect, charming, colorful, systematically designed classrooms are everywhere it seems. Looking more like fashionable boutiques than places of learning, many are truly impressive. They’re also a bad idea. Here’s why: Pressure When you become … Read more
Enforcing consequences is a critical part of managing your classroom. But it’s a small part. It’s a mere piece of a larger tapestry that is falling by the wayside due to the pandemic. You see, there has been so much negativity in our schools … Read more
They’re a subset of students at every school and in nearly every classroom. The cool kids. They with the fashion sense, the pulse of popular culture, the presence that effortlessly draws others into their sphere. Okay, all fine and good. But here’s the problem: … Read more
The pandemic has wreaked havoc on our students. Stuck at home for months. A year or more of lost learning. Socially stunted. Screen addicted. Anxious. Fearful. Depressed. Pacing like a bear in a zoo. Then poked, masked, separated, and dipped in sanitizer. Told their … Read more
Amid the pandemic, we’re seeing more and more students shutting down. Refusing to work. Rarely speaking. Staring off in the distance. Often hiding under a hoodie or hair shading their eyes. They need help. But the way most teachers (and counselors) engage these struggling … Read more
What could possibly be wrong with praising students for being kind? After all, altruism is something you want to encourage, right? You want to create a classroom where doing for others is common practice. It makes everything easier and more pleasant. So when you … Read more