‘We can be us just for one day.’ –David Bowie, Heroes The common notion that you have to forgo your personality to effectively manage your classroom couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, sharing your uniqueness, your charisma, and your joie de vivre … Read more
When a student refuses to go to time-out, he (or she) often has a good reason. This doesn’t mean he isn’t responsible for making such a decision. He is—completely and fully. For it’s never okay to defy a teacher’s direction. But in his mind … Read more
How you give a consequence matters. How you speak to your students, what you say to them, and how you react emotionally and with your body language after they break a classroom rule goes a long way toward curbing misbehavior. Whether you’re giving a … Read more
We know about the public cases, those gossiped about so offhandedly—the homeless student, the one whose mother is in jail, the two with drug dealing fathers no longer around. But what of the others? What of the secrets hidden and locked away, keys all … Read more
A lucky few students—those cute, smart, and well-behaved ones—are accustomed to big smiles and open body language from their teacher. For others, though, it’s a half-hearted greeting and barely a glance. Some students are afforded the privilege of helping out in the classroom before … Read more
Your new students will likely be on their best behavior for the first few days of school. But by the second week, you and your classroom management plan will be tested. After all, your students don’t really know you. Maybe you’ll be like the … Read more
If you’re struggling with classroom management and wondering why, one of the first areas to examine is the personality you bring with you to the classroom. Many teachers become different people the minute their students walk through the door. Sometimes this is a good … 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