It happens every day in classrooms from Fresno to Kathmandu. The teacher pulls aside their most difficult student for a private meeting. Sometimes it’s a lecture. Sometimes it’s a pep-talk. Sometimes it’s to threaten or praise or question like a trial lawyer. But in … Read more
Roughhousing can be a tricky area of classroom management. Although nearly every teacher has a rule forbidding it, it can be difficult to get rid of. Especially once it gets a toehold in your classroom. Enforcement and consistency are key, of course. But because … Read more
Recently, I got a new group of students for a high school class I was teaching. Then a few days later, I came down with the flu. It was awful. It took me three weeks to shake and I missed more than a week … Read more
Eye rolls, deep sighs, melodramatic body language . . . They’re responses to teacher requests or reminders (i.e. “Please put your backpack away.”) that aren’t quite disrespectful. But darn close. Sometimes they’re accompanied by a sarcastic “Sorry!” or “Oh my gosh!” They’re delivered indirectly … Read more
I’ve failed a lot in my life. And I’m thankful for it every day. Because hidden within every failure is a blessing. Failure teaches us more than our successes. It reveals our mistakes and areas needing improvement. It uncovers our carelessness and unpreparedness. It … Read more
You offer encouragement. You give reminders. You supply wisdom and inspiration you hope will make an impact. But your words fall on deaf ears. Nothing you say to your most challenging students seems to make a difference. They continue to misbehave, ignore your advice, … Read more
Make no mistake. Participating in class discussions is important, for all students. It’s important for their academic development. It’s important for their communication skills. It’s important for their confidence and enjoyment of school. But it’s also one of the most misunderstood areas of teaching. … Read more
Keeping a calm, unruffled temperament makes classroom management easier. It effectively removes excitability, which is a major cause of misbehavior. It makes you more likable and worthy of trust. It gives you leadership presence and allows you to build effortless rapport. But for many … Read more