It happens for no apparent reason. You’re cruising along. Your students are attentive and respectful. They’re listening and getting their work done. Behavior is good. But then, out of nowhere, you notice a slight fraying at the seams. They enter the classroom with a … Read more
With just days left in the school year, your students can feel the freedom of summer fast approaching. Testing is behind them. Grades are all but complete. Anticipation is in the air. And with one foot already out the door, it changes them. They … Read more
Here at SCM, we talk a lot about the importance of creating a classroom students look forward to. It’s one of our core principles. Because, when your students enjoy being a member of your class, they’re naturally inclined to follow rules. They want to … Read more
Tattling is annoying. It’s disruptive. It’s petty. It wastes time and gets on your nerves. We think of it as something students do to gain attention or get others in trouble. So we wave them off. We send them back to their seat. We … Read more
It’s important that your students know you care about them. It’s important that they know you’re there for them. It’s important that they know you only want what is best for them. This is no small thing. The teacher whose students believe this about … Read more
Here at SCM, we’ve received a number of emails asking how best to handle students who misbehave outside the four walls of the classroom, but while still in your presence. In other words, how do you respond to rule-breaking while walking to lunch, for … Read more
A few years ago, I wrote a guide to eliminating bullying. It has since become a resource for schools and districts across the country. It’s fairly complete, so I’ll try not to cover the same ground here. But there is one thing the guide … Read more
Recently, I received an email from a teacher who was yelled at by a student. Her class had been in the middle of a learning game, and everything was going smoothly. Or so she thought. The students were playing by the rules. They were … Read more