“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.” -Obi-Wan Kenobi There exists a quiet cadre of teachers who can take over any classroom—out-of-control, disrespectful, or otherwise—and get the students under control, quiet, and working within minutes. They have a certain presence about them, a certain … Read more
Happy New Year! And thanks for being a regular reader of Smart Classroom Management! 2011 has been an exciting year. I know from the hundreds of emails we receive that many of you for the first time are experiencing the freedom and deep satisfaction … Read more
The one thing standing in your way of creating the class you’ve always wanted is believing that you can. With no shortage of teachers willing to tell you why you can’t—and how naive you are to think otherwise—this is no easy task. There are … Read more
It’s common practice for teachers to interrupt misbehavior as it’s occurring. The idea being that if you react quickly enough, you’ll be able to cut off the wrongdoing before it escalates. This is a typical response from anyone wanting to stay on top of … Read more
At its best, classroom management is elegantly simple. Take, for instance, your room environment. A messy, unkempt, or clutter-filled classroom sends the message to your students that poor behavior and middling work habits is acceptable—regardless of how often or how forcefully you say otherwise. … Read more
Teacher burnout, which happens when stress and mental fatigue become more than occasional companions, strikes many thousands of teachers every year. Reports suggest roughly half of all teachers quit within five years. And it’s no wonder. Burnout saps joy from teaching, makes effective classroom … Read more
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. ~Thomas Jefferson Have you ever taught a lesson in another teacher’s classroom? In other words, have you ever taught students whose classroom behaviors, attitudes, and habits have been … Read more
It is said that classroom management comes easy to a lucky few. That some teachers are naturals. They walk into a classroom and somehow, mysteriously, the students just know to be at their best. But here’s the thing. If you peek beneath the surface … Read more