One of the most common email questions we get is . . . “What about students from disadvantaged backgrounds?” The question never ceases to knock me back on my heels because, truth be told, every strategy on this website has been developed in classrooms … Read more
There is a pervasive fear in teaching that if you’re not on top of your students every moment—coaxing, guiding, advising, directing—you’ll lose control of your classroom. If left unchecked, this fear turns otherwise easygoing men and women into micromanagers, hovering over their students like … Read more
As the school year winds to a close, here at Smart Classroom Management we’ve been getting a burst of emails from teachers voicing their frustrations with their students’ inability or unwillingness to pay attention. Although a common struggle given the freedom of summer lurking … Read more
Whether starting over from scratch or opening a new school year, many teachers come on too strong when teaching classroom management. Demanding and forewarning, growling and glaring. Even the mildest-mannered teachers can become overbearing when it comes to laying down the law in the … Read more
Can you tell when you’re going to have a bad day? Can you sense an unhealthy energy rising up in your students or a disquieting buzz you just can’t place? Do you know it the minute your students walk into your classroom? Maybe it’s … Read more
It’s bound to happen. If you follow your classroom management plan, then chances are someday you’re going to make a mistake and enforce a consequence that was undeserved. For example, you hear Joseph talking and joking during a lesson and send him to time-out … Read more
‘We can be us just for one day.’ –David Bowie, Heroes The common notion that you have to forgo your personality to effectively manage your classroom couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, sharing your uniqueness, your charisma, and your joie de vivre … Read more
Most teachers don’t keep their students in time-out long enough. Five to ten minutes seems to be the norm, but to be most effective, your students need to sit and reflect on their misbehavior for at least fifteen minutes. Another common mistake is deciding … Read more