In How To Turn Around Difficult Students (Part 1), I made the case that teachers struggle with difficult students because their compassion overrides doing what is best for the student. If you haven’t read the article, I encourage you to read it before continuing … Read more
At the start of every school year you drag your finger down your roster, hopeful you won’t see one of the few names that can send shivers down your spine. Every year, it seems, there are a handful of students that have the potential … Read more
In their book, Made To Stick, authors Chip and Dan Heath describe the story of Jane Elliott. Jane was a third-grade teacher on April 4, 1968, the day Martin Luther King was assassinated. Struggling to explain the tragedy to her students, Jane decided to … Read more
Calling out is a momentum killer of the highest order and can turn a well-planned lesson into a halting mess. But that isn’t the only reason why you should require your students to raise their hand. Here are a few more: Calling out is … Read more
Years ago I was asked to teach a summer school science class to a group of eighth graders. Because many had failed a similar course during the school year, more than sixty students signed up. Another teacher was brought in to help. His name … Read more
Perhaps more than any other profession, teaching requires you to be mentally prepared before the heavy lifting of the day begins. If you’re feeling hurried, stressed, or distracted in the moments before the students arrive, teaching can be unforgiving—particularly in the area of classroom … Read more
Let’s begin this week’s article by looking at a common scenario. You’re leading your students to class after visiting the library one day, and you notice Andrew kicking the heels of the student in front of him. He is clearly doing it on purpose. … Read more
When a teacher seeks help in handling a difficult student, typically one of the first things recommended is a behavior contract. Behavior contracts are popular because they give teachers a definite plan for improving behavior. And where there is a plan, there is hope. … Read more