You pour your heart into your job. You love your students, even when they’re not so lovable. You plan and create interesting lessons and deliver them with energy. So when a student complains, often within full earshot of the class, it can be infuriating. … Read more
A problem has been nagging me for several years. And now I’m doing something about it. You see, a small number of SCM principles and strategies are far more important than the rest. In fact, they form the very foundation of effective classroom management. … Read more
Maybe you haven’t been as consistent lately. Maybe you’ve lost a bit of control. Whatever the reason, it can sneak up on you quickly. Before you know it, so many students are calling out without raising their hand that it becomes impossible to enforce. … Read more
Last week’s article struck a nerve with some readers. I’m not surprised. Whenever I criticize a strategy that teachers hold dear, I brace for the reaction. Reading some of the comments and emails, however, it occurred to me that much of the ire came … Read more
Narration is a very common strategy, and has been for decades. The way it works is simple. After giving a direction, or signal to begin a routine, the teacher describes aloud the positive behaviors they see. “Jonathan is walking with his hands to himself.” … Read more
There is a teacher trait that has the power to . . . lower your stress. make you more consistent. increase your enjoyment of teaching. improve your relationships. gain critical insight into your students. It’s something never mentioned in educational circles but is present … Read more
You can encourage them. You can empathize with them. You can coax and cajole them. You can gently ask if there is anything bothering them or keeping them from trying. You can lighten their load, bribe them with incentives, or offer choices, accommodations, and … Read more
Routines make everything easier. Because they . . . Transfer excellence to everything you do. Cut way down on misbehavior. Save loads of time. Keep students on task and purpose-driven. Free you to observe and supervise. Which is why anything and everything you do … Read more