This can be a serious time for teachers. You have so much to do, so much to get right. Routines, procedures, rules, consequences, policies, expectations. They all need to be taught in detail, modeled, and practiced. Then reviewed again and again. You have to … Read more
Most teachers begin the school year strong. They teach their classroom management plan in detail. They set expectations and polish and hone routines. They build quick rapport and inspire good initial behavior. Everything seems so easy. But then, three or four weeks in, things … Read more
Come the first day of school, you’ll be ready. Your room, your schedule, your activities and lessons. Your outfit. All primed, polished, and poised to succeed. You’ll even know exactly what you’re going to say when you greet your new class. Which is all … Read more
For years I’ve had a poster on my classroom door that reads “Learn Like A Champion Today.” Each student taps it on their way in. To an outsider it may appear to be a silly ritual. Cutesy, perhaps, but of no real consequence. They … Read more
Authority plays an important role in effective classroom management. Because it affects how students view you. It affects how well they listen to you and follow your directions. It affects their behavior around you, their trust in you, and their respect for you. Some … Read more
Of the many items on your first-day-of-school checklist, three promises should go at the very top. Because, together, they have the power to set a tone of kindness and good behavior that lasts for the entire school year. They also make you instantly likeable … Read more
Trust is an often-overlooked aspect of effective classroom management. But it’s critically important. It’s important because when your students trust you—really trust you—everything is easier. And when they don’t? Well, nothing works as it should. Listening, attentiveness, motivation, work habits, respect, behavior . . … Read more
You begin the school year with so much hope. But then, not an hour after teaching your classroom management plan, your students are misbehaving. They’re talking when you’re talking. They’re leaving their seats without permission. They’re calling out, giggling, and ignoring your directions. It’s … Read more