I’ve spoken to thousands of teachers about their classroom management struggles. They all have much in common. I repeat myself a lot. My advice is “do this and don’t do that.” This is one reason SCM has been successful. Our strategies are straightforward. I … Read more
Many years ago, before I started SCM, a district administrator who knew of my fascination with classroom management came to see me. She wanted me to visit a teacher at a nearby school. She didn’t tell me why, only that I would enjoy it. … Read more
No, you don’t have to be riotously funny. You don’t have to prepare daily jokes and stories. You don’t even have to try to make your students laugh. But you do need to prioritize humor in your classroom. Have a spirit of laughter, a … Read more
The SCM principle of being consistently pleasant has many and tremendous benefits. Chief among them is that it builds effortless rapport. By taking on an easygoing, good-humored disposition, your students will come to you and want to get to know you better. This in … Read more
Here at SCM, we believe building influential relationships with students is critical—for many reasons. Not the least of which is that it makes everything, especially managing behavior, easier. Which is why we’ve gone to lengths in our books to break down in the simplest … Read more
They seem happy around their classmates. They do their work. They follow directions. But it’s clear they don’t like you. You never get a smile. You rarely get eye contact. When you speak to them they return one-word answers or nothing at all. If … Read more
You can’t force it. This is the mistake teachers make. Trying to pull quiet, shy, or distrustful students out of their shell does the opposite. It makes them less likely to participate and engage in discussions. It causes them more discomfort and embarrassment. It … Read more
It’s not because you hold them accountable. This is a myth. In fact, as long as you follow through as promised—and without lecturing, berating, questioning, etc.—your likability will increase. It will get stronger along with their trust in you. But there are distinct and … Read more