Maybe it’s the way they interrupt you. Maybe it’s their disrespectful tone. Maybe it’s their silliness or side-talking or affinity for misbehaving at the worst possible time. Whatever it is, it bugs you. It gets under your skin. It prompts an internal dialogue you’re … Read more
Getting a bad report from your substitute can be especially frustrating. You weren’t there. You didn’t witness the misbehavior. It shouldn’t be your responsibility. But you know you can’t just let it slide. Otherwise, it will be worse the next time and may even … Read more
Most teachers who have lost control of their class aren’t even aware of it. After all, it’s not as if their students are throwing spit wads at each other. They’re not out of their seats during lessons. They’re not yelling and cursing and running … Read more
At this time of year it isn’t unusual for routines to become sloppy. Your students, after all, are growing tired of the grind. The pressures of testing weigh heavily. Morning songbirds remind them that summer is near. Despite faithfully following the do-it-again strategy, your … Read more
The easiest way to improve classroom behavior is one few teachers ever consider. It’s at once blatantly obvious and far off the grid. You won’t find it in modern professional books and are unlikely to hear about it at conferences. Yet, it’s as plain … Read more
Reflection forms have been around forever. And at first glance, they appear to be a good idea. Dig a little deeper, though, and they tell a different story. The way they work is that when a student is sent to time-out, they’re handed a … Read more
Are you having trouble getting your students engaged in quality discussions? You’re not alone. We frequently hear from teachers who struggle in this area. Given the growing emphasis on student talk, this is no small problem. Your students’ ability to communicate has suddenly become … Read more
So you have this student. Let’s call her Brittany. And Brittany frustrates you to no end. Because despite holding her accountable, she continues to break the same rule over and over. Oh, she may hold off for a few days, a week perhaps, but … Read more