A reader emailed SCM last week wondering how to handle six students who were wreaking havoc in his classroom. Every day they were disruptive. They were talkative and silly. They called out during lessons and made inappropriate comments. They played off one another and … Read more
It happens, often without warning. A student becomes so angry they verge on losing control. They fume and seethe. They glare and tear up. They turn dark crimson. Sometimes we know the cause of their infuriation and other times we have no idea. The … Read more
Ask a struggling teacher how their class is going and they’ll inevitably bring up one or two students who take up much of their time. They’ll lament the disruptions and the battles. They’ll tell horror stories of incidents past. They’ll share how they’ve tried … Read more
There is a lot of bad classroom management information out there. Now more than ever. Not a month goes by that we don’t hear of another irresponsible method being promoted. We hope to list our top ten worst strategies in a future article, but … Read more
When I began this blog more than six years ago, I made a commitment to telling the whole truth about classroom management. The good and bad. The harmful and transformational. What really works and what doesn’t. Along the way we’ve dispelled myths, exposed misconceptions, … Read more
Maybe it’s the way they interrupt you. Maybe it’s their disrespectful tone. Maybe it’s their silliness or side-talking or affinity for misbehaving at the worst possible time. Whatever it is, it bugs you. It gets under your skin. It prompts an internal dialogue you’re … Read more
You praise. You encourage. You pep-talk, demand, and implore. But nothing seems to change. Trying and failing to motivate unmotivated students is a common frustration among teachers. It’s a frustration with seemingly no real answers beyond the same old, same old. Until today. Because … Read more
There is nothing wrong with a class clown. In fact, students gifted with a clever sense of humor can be a wonderful asset to your classroom. They can be another ingredient in the mix that helps you create a learning environment students love being … Read more