So I ran this experiment. And enough time has passed that I can now share it with you. Here’s what happened: I was halfway through the semester with a class I really enjoyed. I had prepared them well to start the year by employing … Read more
Teachers who struggle with classroom management—and teaching in general—tend to be overly invested in the job. They view the profession as who they are rather than what they do. They live and die with every success or failure. They’ve bought into the lie—hook, line, … Read more
This past week, I watched the first episode of A&E’s Undercover High. To the uninitiated, the show follows seven young adults who go undercover in an American high school. One of the things that struck me, among many, was the ubiquity of cell phone … Read more
There is a secret a small cadre of teachers share that can drastically improve your class. It works in all situations and grade levels. It’s simple and straightforward. It causes a giant leap in progress—from behavior and listening to work habits and attentiveness. It’s … Read more
Here at SCM, we’ve talked a lot about the importance of maintaining a calm disposition. It is, without a doubt, the most effective way to keep misbehavior-causing excitability out of your classroom. But it’s also caused some confusion among SCM readers. You see, staying … Read more
Here at Smart Classroom Management, we’d like to express our deepest appreciation to you, our loyal readers. Your support means everything to us. Your willingness to share SCM with friends, colleagues, and followers allow us to continue doing what we love week after week … Read more
Your smile and consistency. Your pleasantness and good humor. Your kindness, honesty, and simplicity of message. Day in and day out, they let your students know how much you care. It’s something they can see and feel as plain as day. Which in turn … Read more
At this time of year, I often hear from teachers wondering if they should, or even can, start over again. Either they’ve been inconsistent. Or they didn’t teach their classroom management plan thoroughly enough the first time. Or they didn’t have much of a … Read more