Here at SCM we’ve long lamented strategies that limit the freedoms of difficult students. —Which include: Permanently moving their desk nearest the teacher. Not allowing them to work with certain students. Restricting their activities, movements, or access afforded other students. Now, it’s important to … Read more
More and more teachers are allowing students to listen to music in class. Perhaps not during direct instruction. But once students are let go to work independently, in go the earbuds. It’s odd to me, to be honest, that anyone would think this is … Read more
I love learning games. They’re a great way to build camaraderie. They create fun and energy. They also have a knack for making information stick. One of my favorites is called the vocabulary game. It’s a review game you can play for virtually any … Read more
Charming, stylish, and often athletically talented, entitled students believe they’re special and not subject to the same boundaries and expectations as others. Thus, they skirt the rules. They do less work. They speak and move as if princely treatment is their royal birthright. And … Read more
“My students are social butterflies.” “Chatting is their learning style.” “They’re an expressive, creative bunch.” These statements and others like them are said as way of explanation. They are the reasons given for why the teacher is frequently interrupted. And why the class is … Read more
After the first two or three weeks of school you may be lulled into thinking that you have a great class. But too often, it’s the moment it all goes awry. I see it year after year. Teachers beaming and chatty at early staff … Read more
One of the tenets of SCM is to give only worthy praise. What is worthy? Here at SCM we define it as work or performance greater than an individual student has done before. In this way, you ensure that it provides the student helpful … Read more
If you’re a regular reader of SCM, then you’ll no doubt take your time teaching your classroom management plan. You’ll model what is and isn’t okay. You’ll provide examples. You’ll shore up gray areas and show your new class what not to do. This … Read more