As a third consequence of your classroom management plan, I recommend a letter home to parents. But probably not for the reasons you may think. I can’t emphasize enough that consequences for misbehavior are only a small part of classroom management. By themselves, they … Read more
In his book, Ignore Everybody: And 39 Other Keys To Creativity, Hugh MacLeod points out that Abraham Lincoln penned the Gettysburg Address on borrowed stationary. Hemingway wrote with a simple fountain pen. Van Gogh rarely used more than six colors on his palate. And … Read more
There are a number of popular notions about classroom management that are widely accepted as gospel. But reality doesn’t always match perception. This is one reason why classroom management can be so confusing. “I just want to know what does and doesn’t work so … Read more
It’s natural for teachers struggling with classroom management to try to do more. They talk more, move around the room more, and meet with students more. They raise their voice and micromanage. They hover and pace. They race through lessons hoping to finish before … Read more
If you’ve been teaching for longer than say… three minutes, then you’ve no doubt been hammered over the head with the idea that enthusiasm is important to effective teaching. In order to motivate students, you have to be passionate about your subject. I don’t … Read more
Do you hide the truth from difficult students? Do you give them false praise? In the name of encouragement, most teachers do. But if you want lasting improvement in their behavior, then you have to be brutally honest with them. Difficult students don’t benefit … Read more
In my previous article I wrote about how a warning should be your first consequence. This week I’m going to explain how to give a warning so it will have the greatest impact on student behavior. Here we go. The Purpose Of A Warning … Read more
I’m frequently asked whether I recommend giving a warning as a first consequence. My answer is an emphatic yes. Giving a warning eliminates the need for three commonly used strategies that make classroom management more difficult. Teachers who struggle with classroom management tend to … Read more