It’s so easy to do. One of your smart, capable, polite, well-groomed, athletic, and/or charismatic students accidentally and ever-so-briefly breaks a class rule, and you smile and give them a gentle reminder. You trust them, after all. It was a mistake, after all. They … Read more
Kneeling down to a student’s eye level to discuss behavior or impart an important lesson is common practice. It’s recommended without second thought. Teachers do it every day. The idea is that it’s more effective and the student is more likely to heed your … Read more
Several years ago, a colleague confided in me that she was afraid to hold her students accountable because she was convinced that they would hate her for it. Some of her students were taller than her and looked like adults, which may have been … Read more
Redirection as a classroom management strategy is common, accepted, and wholly uncontroversial. Touted from Baja to the Canadian Rockies and circumnavigating the civilized world, it’s recommended de rigueur without a second thought. “Just redirect” they say, so easy and breezy. It rolls off the … Read more
I speak to a lot of teachers who’ve been struggling with classroom management for years. And I’ve noticed some common themes. I thought I’d share them with you. Because knowing the biggest hurdles and avoiding them, in any field of endeavor, is a shortcut … Read more
Some teachers seem to revel in drama and making life harder for their colleagues. They love victimhood and high status. They believe that they’re the greatest educator since Anne Sullivan, yet have no idea the destruction they cause to school climate and culture. To … Read more
Teachers giving grades students haven’t earned is rampant, staggering in its increasing frequency. Why is this happening? A few reasons. First, the pandemic and accompanying learning loss has added pressure on teachers to get students caught up. This has caused the standards for earning … Read more
I know this to be true after years of working with thousands of teachers struggling with classroom management: They don’t know what they want from their students. Should they allow talking while entering the classroom? Should they allow calling out during discussions? Should they … Read more