There is statement I hear again and again from teachers struggling with classroom management. It’s often used as a reason for not holding students strictly accountable or justification for the chaos they’re experiencing. In reality, however, it reveals a profound misunderstanding of effective classroom … Read more
A positive, trusting relationship with students is a core principle of SCM. After all, it’s the most important factor in creating a classroom they want to be part of. Which, in turn, inspires intrinsic motivation, models patience and kindness, and makes your consequences matter … Read more
If you’re a regular reader of SCM, and therefore a keen observer of your class, a drop in a student’s grades, performance, and behavior becomes quickly noticeable. We’re used to this, of course. All students have ups and downs over a long school year. … Read more
So you have this student, or maybe several, who during instructional time try to make their classmates laugh. Sometimes it’s just a look or whispered comment, but it can be a major disruption. It can also be hard to know how to handle. Should … Read more
So what is brazen behavior? I define it as anything especially disruptive, silly, or defiant. Some examples: Running or chasing in the classroom. Yelling, bursting laughter, or falling on the floor. Roughhousing and practical jokes. Ignoring specific directions or commands. Throwing spitwads, erasers, or … Read more
There are techniques that can help you maintain a calm disposition throughout each teaching day. Even if chaos is swirling around you. We’ve covered several in the past, both in our books and here on the website. But today I want to share with … Read more
I’ve been writing about praise since 2009, but there is still a lot of confusion over its use. Typically, praise is given far too frequently. Most classrooms are a constant stream of way-to-gos and good-jobs, regardless of accomplishment—or lack thereof. Also known as false … Read more
So you have this student who seemingly at every break wants to share critical information with you. Sometimes it’s an observation. “The heater is making a strange clicking sound.” Sometimes it’s a suggestion. “I think you should line the class up in alphabetical order.” … Read more