Of all the responsibilities you have on the first day of school, teaching your classroom management plan is número uno in importance. After all, your success as a teacher hinges on your ability to manage your classroom. That’s just the way it is. Teachers … Read more
You’ve likely heard the oft-repeated recommendation that teachers should never smile the first three months of the school year. The idea being that if you show kindness toward your students, they’ll see it as a weakness and take advantage of you. Hogwash. Although it’s … Read more
For regular education classroom teachers, giving rewards in exchange for good behavior is a mistake. It’s true that “do this and get that” type rewards can improve behavior in the short term. As in, “Sit up straight and give me your attention, and I … Read more
If you’re like most teachers, you stray from your classroom management plan. Oh, your intentions are good. You really do want to follow it to the letter. But ultimately you don’t. Situations keep getting in the way. Like, for example, when one of your … Read more
The idea is simple. If your students like you, they’ll want to please you and seek your approval. Which gives you leverage—leverage to influence behavior like almost nothing else. And the best news is… it’s automatic. Your students will automatically behave better simply because … Read more
Classroom management is easy. Let me rephrase that. Classroom management should feel easy. If it feels difficult to you, if it feels like you’re straining and working to get students to behave and pay attention, then you’re doing something wrong. Effective classroom management is … Read more
There are a number of popular notions about classroom management that are widely accepted as gospel. But reality doesn’t always match perception. This is one reason why classroom management can be so confusing. “I just want to know what does and doesn’t work so … Read more
It’s natural for teachers struggling with classroom management to try to do more. They talk more, move around the room more, and meet with students more. They raise their voice and micromanage. They hover and pace. They race through lessons hoping to finish before … Read more