I recently heard a story from a teacher who confronted a group of students playing in the hallway. When one student denied involvement, she grew angry. She raised her voice and laid into him. She pressured him to admit his wrongdoing and promise not … Read more
First off, I don’t think it’s terribly important how you keep track of consequences. It’s just important that you do. You never want to be caught flatfooted if a parent asks why their child was in time-out last Tuesday. You also want to be … Read more
This week I’d like to share with you a very simple strategy. It’s something you can do every day. It takes less than a minute. But it can improve any area of classroom management your students are struggling with. On the surface, the strategy … Read more
Many of the article requests we receive at SCM center on big problems. Readers want to know how to rein in an out-of-control class. They ask about how to handle defiance and disrespect. They inquire about tantrums, incessant talking, and entire classes that disregard … Read more
Here at SCM, we’ve heard horror stories about angry parents. Teachers have emailed us to share incidents of ranting and raving. They’ve shared how parents have interrupted their class and confronted them in front of students. They’ve told of parents who’ve stomped into the … Read more
One of the biggest mistakes teachers make is that they get too involved in student work. They pull up a chair and join in discussions. They lean down and offer unsolicited suggestions. They interrupt, remind, encourage, guide, and hint. And although there are times … Read more
It’s common for teachers to bemoan the state of listening in their classroom. “Sometimes I feel like I’m talking to myself.” “I say it over and over again, and they still don’t get it.” “It’s almost as if they’ve completely tuned me out.” But … Read more
There is a common misconception that you must have a big presence to be an effective leader. You must psych yourself up, throw your shoulders back, and move boldly among your students. Your voice must boom. Your walk must swagger. Your eyes must squint … Read more