In this age of distraction . . . Of smartphones and Instagram. Of texting and Snapchat. Of clickbait and information overload. . . . being able to focus on one thing for an extended period of time is a superpower. It gives you a … Read more
“Why do we have to raise our hands?” “Why can’t we talk in the hallway?” “Why do we have to do it like that.” It can feel, depending on their tone of voice, disrespectful. It can feel as if they’re trying to put you … Read more
There are teachers who seem blessed with natural charisma. The lucky ones. They with the easy charm. The effortlessness vibe. The secret something that causes students to want to please them and behave for them. Must be nice, huh? But the truth is, they’re … Read more
There is a secret to effective teaching very few teachers are aware of. It’s so secret, in fact, that I’ve never heard anyone speak of it. As far as I know, it’s never been written about. It’s never been touted by instructional coaches or … Read more
There is a phenomenon I see again and again in the classrooms I visit. As attention starts to wane . . . Eyelids droop. Fingers tap. Bodies sigh. . . . the teacher will speed up their instruction. They’ll talk and move faster as … Read more
It’s common to assume that allowing students to talk to whomever they want about whatever they want is a bad thing. That it wastes time. That it gets them off track. That it riles them up and causes misbehavior. But when you decide when … Read more
It’s only natural to want to focus on what matters. To concern yourself primarily with content, lessons, and academic performance. To be a stickler about students getting their essays or projects done right. And give short shrift to the ordinary, everyday, and mundane. But … Read more
It’s normal to feel angry. How could you not? You have a student who is ruining your school year. They’re disruptive every day. They’re rude and disrespectful. They cause more problems, more chaos, and more disorder than the rest of your class put together. … Read more