I’ve failed a lot in my life. And I’m thankful for it every day. Because hidden within every failure is a blessing. Failure teaches us more than our successes. It reveals our mistakes and areas needing improvement. It uncovers our carelessness and unpreparedness. It … Read more
One of the secrets to exceptional classroom management is to aim for the stars. It’s to accept nothing less than what you want for your classroom, your students, and your career. It doesn’t matter where you teach. It doesn’t matter who is on your … Read more
Here at SCM, we’d like to say “Thank you!” Because of your loyal readership, we’re able to continue our passion for helping teachers improve their classroom management. We’re humbled by the success of the website and are more dedicated than ever to provide you … Read more
Recently, a teacher asked me to observe her in action. It didn’t go well. Her classroom was chaotic. Her students played and goofed off. They yelled and roughhoused. They wrestled, guffawed, and used language that would make a sailor blush. They dismissed her and … Read more
The Smart Classroom Management approach works. It works for elementary school teachers. It works for middle and high school teachers. It works for new teachers and veterans alike. It works regardless of where you teach, who your students are, or whether or not you … Read more
In the past, I’ve written about the importance of starting over from scratch when you feel yourself losing control of your class. But what if you can’t even get your students’ attention? What if they act as if you don’t exist? What if you … Read more
Almost every teacher does it. But is it effective? Is it effective to stop your lesson and wait on students who are talking? Well, yes and no. While it’s true that the strategy can help get wayward students back on track, it does little … Read more
For the past dozen years or so, I’ve had the opportunity to see many teachers in action. And there is one particularly bad habit that is common among those who struggle with classroom management. It’s usually not their only bad habit, mind you. But … Read more