How you speak to your class matters—a lot. It affects how attentive your students are, how well they listen and follow directions, and how independent—or dependent—they become. It affects the efficiency and effectiveness of your lessons and the extent of student engagement. It affects … Read more
Do you gossip about your students? Before you answer no, it’s important to clarify that any criticism of particular students that isn’t respectfully intended for their benefit is gossip—no two ways about it. Don’t get me wrong; consulting privately with colleagues about your most … Read more
Like so much of classroom management, the key to managing voice levels is to define for your students what you expect of them—and then hold them to it. Your students need to know during every minute of the school day whether it’s an allowable … Read more
It’s not uncommon for teachers to give their most challenging students classroom jobs and other mild responsibilities. The reasoning is that it keeps them busy, feeling useful, and preoccupied with something other than misbehaving. There is nothing wrong with this strategy, and it can … Read more
It’s frustrating. You spend your entire prep-hour strategically placing students into groups. You teach, model, and role-play what you want them to do. You assign roles, provide clear objectives, and confirm their understanding of your expectations. You give them all the support you know … Read more
Lately, I’ve been receiving emails from teachers wondering why they have so many students in time-out every day, so I think it’s a good time to revisit a few core principles of Smart Classroom Management. When you implement a classroom management plan for the … Read more
Toes tap, knees piston, eyes dance about the room—the air hangs heavy with uneasiness and distraction. The students can barely contain themselves, all but bursting to talk and move and burn off pent up energy. Even when the classroom is quiet, the enveloping tension … Read more
It’s easy to hold a grudge against difficult students. It’s our natural tendency; our default setting when someone angers us or hurts those we care about. It’s an extension of that initial surge of annoyance and frustration that comes over us when a student … Read more