“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
There is a simple thing you can do right now to ensure better classroom management next school year. It only takes a few minutes. The way it works is to list the five most disruptive, annoying, and stressful misbehaviors you witnessed last school year. … Read more
Here at SCM, we’re used to hearing horror stories from teachers. But the sheer number of emails we’ve received this past school year is like nothing we’ve ever seen. Students were different. There is no doubt about it. How? Just more of everything: Aggression … Read more
So you’re cruising along having a good day and a student pokes you with a stick. “What you said isn’t true.” “Shelby didn’t deserve a consequence.” “My old teacher did it this way.“ Statements like these, spoken with attitude, are meant to goad you … Read more
Walk into any classroom anytime of day and chances are the class will be in the middle of a discussion. Led by the teacher, the dialogue will typically narrow to a predetermined conclusion. Sometimes an assignment will follow. Often, however, it will not. —Because … Read more