Imagine if your students were able to perform every classroom routine and every transition perfectly without you having to say a word. Imagine only having to smile and say hello for the first ten minutes of every school day because they know exactly what … Read more
It’s easy to stick with your classroom management plan the first few weeks of the school year. You’re eager to make a fresh start, and your students are on their best behavior. By week three, you’re cruising. But then… slowly, imperceptibly, things start becoming routine, … Read more
During the first few weeks of a new school year, I try to identify students with natural leadership ability. Typically, two or three strong leaders will emerge from a class of thirty. My only criterion is that the other students look up to them. … Read more
You’re going to love this classroom management strategy. So much so that you may end up using it every day—maybe several times a day. It’s called ‘the power of one.’ The power of one is a proactive strategy you can use whenever your students … Read more
A typical time-out consists of 5 to 10 minutes of sitting at a desk separated from classmates. But for many students, this isn’t a strong enough consequence. For time-out to be most effective, your students need to feel the full weight of accountability. They … Read more
No, it’s not corporal punishment. It’s not bribing with Snickers bars. It’s not free time. The forbidden strategy I’m referring to has gotten a bad rap, but is so effective it’s used to train nurses, police officers, professional athletes, and opera singers. What is … Read more
The first few days of a new school year are an important time for classroom management. You have a captive group of students, fresh and open to your way of doing things. But it won’t last. You have to take advantage of it. If … Read more
In part one of this two-part series on homework, we covered four strategies: 1. Assign what students already know. 2. Don’t involve parents. 3. Review before the end of the day. 4. Confront students who don’t have completed homework. This week, we’ll finish the … Read more