There is odd consensus that you can only use time-out for elementary-age students. This is silly. There is nothing wrong with removing a student who is interfering with the rights of others to learn and enjoy school. No one is too old. If I … Read more
Not much fires a teacher up more than a student talking back. It has a special way of getting under the skin because . . . It’s blatantly disrespectful. It typically happens in front of the class. It directly challenges your authority. How you … Read more
The ability to get your students’ attention anytime you need it is critical for good teaching. Because . . . It saves time. It allows you to give further instruction. It’s a sign of a well-behaved class. The signal you use is unimportant. It … Read more
How you give a consequence matters. It’s not just do or not do. The way it’s performed goes a long way toward your students taking responsibility. It’s another of the small details that separate just getting by from exceptional classroom management. The latter requires … Read more
Last week, I wrote about how to fix time-out if it isn’t working. And I got some peculiar responses. “What if my students like time-out?” “What if they want to stay in time-out?” “What if they prefer the quiet of time-out?” “What if they’re … Read more
Understanding time-out, its purpose and function, is key to its effectiveness. Yet, as I visit classrooms, many teachers get it wrong. It’s not a dunce-cap punishment or place for students to feel shame, which only causes resentment and more misbehavior. Rather, time-out must be … Read more
I’m not an expert in autism. Nor do I have a degree or teaching credential in special education. I write only from the perspective of a classroom teacher. This article is a response to the many questions we’ve received here at SCM about autistic … Read more
Many years ago, my 4th grade class took part in a school-wide science fair. There were awards for best projects per grade level, best projects overall, and various other categories. The teachers acted as judges. A boy named Seth had what I believed to … Read more