It’s a common frustration. You know you’re a good teacher. You’re calm and friendly toward your students. You prepare interesting lessons and never threaten or yell. And yet, you’re still struggling. Your students aren’t terrible, but they’re often rambunctious. They seem immature for their … Read more
“Why do we have to raise our hands?” “Why can’t we talk in the hallway?” “Why do we have to do it like that.” It can feel, depending on their tone of voice, disrespectful. It can feel as if they’re trying to put you … Read more
It’s common to assume that allowing students to talk to whomever they want about whatever they want is a bad thing. That it wastes time. That it gets them off track. That it riles them up and causes misbehavior. But when you decide when … Read more
It’s only natural to want to focus on what matters. To concern yourself primarily with content, lessons, and academic performance. To be a stickler about students getting their essays or projects done right. And give short shrift to the ordinary, everyday, and mundane. But … Read more
One of the biggest causes of misbehavior is excitability. It’s also one of the hardest to fix. The reason is that most struggling teachers just don’t notice it. They become so used to the tension, so accustomed to the antsiness and disquiet, that they’re … Read more
Encouraging your students to become service-oriented is a powerful classroom management strategy. Because it creates empathy. It causes them to see their classmates as people just like them, with the same hopes, feelings, and struggles. It virtually eliminates bullying and improves self-worth. Most importantly, … Read more
When your class gives a subpar performance, the tendency is to ease up. To take your foot off the gas. To think, “Maybe I’m asking too much.” This is a normal response after a so-so routine, an unfocused lesson, or off-topic group work. But … Read more
The end of the day or period can be a chaotic time. You may be distracted, passing things out or giving last-minute instruction. Your students, poised to leave, may not be so attentive. Voices get loud. Misbehavior tends to increase. And holding students accountable … Read more