I love to read aloud. I find it to be one of the great joys of teaching. Done in a certain way, it’s also an effective classroom management strategy. Because it encourages a more respectful, peaceful room environment. It calms, soothes, and inspires. It … Read more
If you’re a regular reader of SCM, then you know how important it is to build trust and likability. Together, they cause students to want to please you and behave for you. They give your consequences muscle and meaning. They help create a classroom … Read more
Here at SCM, we’ve talked a lot about the importance of making your praise worthy. That is, praise that is based on true accomplishment. —Which can be defined as achievement, excellence, or effort beyond what is commonly expected. In this way, we support the … Read more
I’m often asked what if anything has changed during my 27 years of teaching. There are a few things, for sure. The students are considerably less independent to begin the school year. Parents are far more protective. And we teachers don’t have as much … Read more
I may disappoint some people with what I’m about to write. But first let me back up a bit. For the past several years, managing students with ADHD has been near the top of the list of SCM reader requests. And it’s something I’ve … Read more
Bringing more humor to your classroom can have a strong impact on classroom management. Because it makes building rapport and influence easier. It improves listening and the desire to pay attention. It draws students to you, makes you more likable, and helps create an … Read more
There is a strategy that builds strong, behavior-influencing rapport with virtually any student. Guarded, angry, painfully shy, behaviorally difficult . . . It works with even the most challenging students. It doesn’t take much time or forethought to put into practice. But it can … Read more
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