There is a temptation to just be happy your students are showing up. To accept lying in bed, playing video games on the side, or chatting with siblings as long as they keep logging in. The idea, after all, is to encourage. Accept anything … Read more
The pressure of teaching online can be overwhelming and even more stressful than being in the classroom. There is so much to learn. So much to research and figure out. So many decisions to make. And not a lot of time to do it. … Read more
Forgive me if I ramble or am way off base with my article today. I’m learning just like you. But I do have some thoughts. This past week I received dozens of requests for this topic. Many from stressed-out and desperate-for-answers teachers, which I … Read more
We want parents involved, of course. But when they overstay their welcome, when they hang around your door and talk and talk (and talk), about everything under the sun, it can be aggravating. It can keep you from your work, add more stress to … Read more
For behavior to improve, your students need to feel remorse when they misbehave. They need to reflect on their transgressions and decide not to make the same mistake again. Great, you say, but how might that be done? How do you get students to … Read more
With a single statement, spoken at the beginning of the day or class period, you can send a wave of calmness throughout your classroom. It takes just a few seconds, but you’ll see, and even feel, the difference immediately. You’ll also notice a greater … Read more
Many, many teachers are in the habit of looking the other way when the top 10% of their class break a rule. It’s understandable, and certainly easy to justify. After all, the misbehavior is nearly always an accident, like quietly asking a question but … Read more
In David Epstein’s recent book Range, he makes the case that most breakthroughs in science, art, technology, medicine, music, and sports come from those with a wide range of interests and abilities. For example, Nobel laureates in science are 22 times more likely than … Read more