Teachers who struggle with classroom management—and teaching in general—tend to be overly invested in the job. They view the profession as who they are rather than what they do. They live and die with every success or failure. They’ve bought into the lie—hook, line, … Read more
The tougher the class, the easier it is to be inconsistent. The easier it is to give in and lose control. Which is why when you have a challenging group of students you must be mentally tough. You must be, as Winston Churchill once … Read more
At some point, unfair criticism happens to everybody. Especially if you’re a newer teacher or new to a school and have yet to establish your reputation. Maybe your principal saw something out of context. Maybe they witnessed a few students acting up outside of … Read more
It’s official. A culture of pressure and stress has infected the teaching profession. It’s palpable in school after school and district after district. From Boston to Lisbon. Flat River to Bath. Spokane to Montreal. It’s fueled by a do-more and give-more mentality that has … Read more
Why not just let it go? What’s the harm? After all, it’s the last day of school. The textbooks are put away. Laptops are inventoried and stored until next year. Tests have been taken, projects turned in, grades entered. In a few short hours, … Read more
A few years ago, I wrote an article called 50 Things You Don’t Have To Do For Effective Classroom Management. It resonated with a lot of readers. The reason, I believe, is because there is so much misinformation out there. We’re bombarded with it … Read more
For a small minority of teachers, staying late after school is a symbol of their dedication. It makes them feel as if they’re doing everything they can for their students. It gives them a sense of pride. They like having their car the last … Read more
One of the benefits of the SCM approach is that you’ll really get to know your students. You’ll have the freedom to observe them without distractions and interruptions. You’ll have the time to listen to them and learn of their hopes and dreams. You’ll … Read more