So you lost your cool. You raised your voice. You put your students in their place. You stomped around in a huff and behaved in a manner you’re not proud of. You said things you wish you could take back. And now as the … Read more
When students aren’t held accountable for misbehavior, they take advantage of it. They become brazen and disrespectful. They affect a cool, uncaring attitude. They take their sweet time responding to instruction. And no matter how hard the teacher tries to stay positive, no matter … Read more
I think you’re going to like this strategy. It’s fun and easy, takes very little planning, and can improve behavior in your classroom the first time you try it. It’s called the preview strategy. It works through a simple change in the way you … Read more
Five minutes. That’s all it takes to improve your relationship with your students. And why is that important? Because having rapport with students translates to powerful and behavior-influencing leverage—the kind of leverage that compels them to want to behave, to want to do well, … Read more
‘We can be us just for one day.’ –David Bowie, Heroes The common notion that you have to forgo your personality to effectively manage your classroom couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, sharing your uniqueness, your charisma, and your joie de vivre … Read more
Building rapport with students can be a remarkably effective way to improve classroom management. But there is some confusion over what rapport is and how one goes about building it. Rapport is nothing more than a connection you make with your students based on … Read more
If you’re a regular reader of this website, then you know that effective classroom management doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need elaborate charts. You don’t need an incentive system. And you don’t need to beg, bribe, or threaten students to behave. But … Read more
One of the keys to effective classroom management is to build relationships with students. Making personal connections–through humor, kindness, likeability, and more–is a powerful way to influence behavior. It can also be astonishingly rewarding. The give-and-take with students, the trusting rapport, the shared affection–these … Read more