Many teachers make the mistake of trying to talk their students through each moment of the school day. The idea being that if a teacher provides continual guidance–through reminding, cajoling, and micromanaging–then he or she will be more effective. It makes sense. But it … Read more
Lecturing individual students is a common classroom management practice—just another tool in a teacher’s tool belt. But it’s a colossal mistake, born of frustration, that does nothing to curb unwanted behavior beyond several minutes. The reason? When you lecture individual students, it’s done out … Read more
Maybe it’s the weather. Or a full moon. Or maybe a holiday is around the corner. Whatever it is, there are times when your class just can’t seem to get it together. They’re unfocused, squirrelly, prone to misbehavior. And no matter what you do, … 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
I have a technique you can start using tomorrow that will eliminate stress from your teaching life. This no-stress method is so effective, in fact, that many professional athletes use it before a competition. For them, keeping their composure can mean the difference between … Read more
Have you ever noticed that some teachers don’t have to work as hard at classroom management? Certain teachers can walk into a classroom, and almost magically, the students become calmer, more mature, and more receptive in their presence. These teachers may use the same … Read more
In my previous article, I covered three conditions that best build classroom community. To review, they are: The presence of an enticing goal. Every class member is needed to achieve the goal. A chance of failure. Much like the close-knit bonds developed on a … Read more
Years ago—I was a fourth grade teacher at the time—the principal mandated every grade level to choose one way to build community in their classrooms. We had to agree on something as a team, and then follow through with the idea for an entire … Read more