No matter what you hear from your colleagues, no matter how far they say they’ve gotten into the curriculum, or how they’re already working in groups or rotating students through centers, avoid the temptation to join them. Avoid rushing to catch up. Avoid pushing … Read more
It can sneak up on you quickly. Your students, after all, are eager to please. They want to do well. Many are determined to turn over a new leaf, to put the past in the past and start afresh. Every new year of school … Read more
You have one opportunity to start your school year on the right classroom management foot, one shot to propel your first day of school into the best learning experience your students have ever had. You can’t afford to leave it to chance. You can’t … Read more
A sharp, well-maintained classroom sends so many wonderful and powerful messages to students—from an expectation of excellence to personal pride in their work habits. It’s a slam-dunk, surefire, easy way to improve behavior in your classroom. Yet, remarkably, classroom organization is an area typically … Read more
Oh no, not again. At the worst possible moment, just as you’re homing in on your lesson objective, you notice a desperate hand waving at you from the edge your peripheral vision. Your first instinct is to ignore it and plow ahead, but then … Read more
Because we care. This is why it touches our heart to see our students upset or crestfallen. This is why when they bomb a math test or bury their head in their arms over another behavior regression, we seek to soften the blow. We … Read more
Side-talking can be especially frustrating because, although it’s done out of earshot, it’s remarkably disruptive. When your students turn their attention away from you and to a neighbor, they miss important instruction and learning time—which means you’ll either have to repeat yourself or reteach … Read more
It’s a common scene. The teacher stands in front of a large group of students with one arm extended skyward, fingers forming a number (two being most popular), while the other hand is closed but for the index finger poised over pursed lips. The … Read more