Recently, a former student contacted me through the SCM Facebook page. He was in my sixth-grade class almost 20 years ago. I remembered him well. In fact, although I didn’t use his real name, I mentioned him in Dream Class. He was the tough … Read more
Here at SCM, we’d like to extend our deepest thanks. We appreciate you and the wonderful support we receive throughout the year. We’re truly grateful for the opportunity to help you improve your classroom. We’re especially excited about 2016. The new book, The Happy … Read more
The student looks up at you with pleading eyes. They’re distressed. They’re remorseful. They’re in anguish over the mistake they made. “Please . . . I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll never do it again.” Indeed, they appear for all the world to be … Read more
Venting to colleagues is normal. It’s healthy. It relieves stress. It puts things into perspective. It reminds you that all teachers have experienced the same frustrations. But if you have a particular student in mind, it’s also fraught with danger. If you’re not careful, … Read more
Last week we talked about how consistent accountability combined with a kindhearted nature results in a nicer, friendlier class. They work together to rid your classroom of incivility and disrespect. They turn what you thought and feared were most disagreeable students into the lovely … Read more
Sometimes it will occur to you right away, within the first week of school. Sometimes it may take a few weeks. But if one day you realize that your class isn’t very nice—to you or to each other—it can be disheartening. It can be … Read more
It’s a question we get surprisingly often. Is it ever okay for students to leave their seat without permission? Can they get up and grab a tissue, for example? Can they turn in work or sharpen a pencil or select a new reading book … Read more
Here at Smart Classroom Management we’ve written a lot about how to make modeling more effective. We’ve covered the importance of being highly detailed. We’ve covered common mistakes and pitfalls. We’ve covered silent modeling, student modeling, and a strategy called “the power of one.” … Read more