Here at SCM, we talk a lot about the importance of building rapport. And how it’s best to focus on your entire class rather than individual students. Because, trying to build rapport one student at a time is . . . time consuming. awkward … Read more
Surprisingly, it’s still common advice: Never smile the first month or two of the school year. The idea being that if you show kindness toward your students, then they won’t respect you. Instead, they’ll perceive you as weak, a pushover. They’ll test you, challenge … Read more
Bringing more humor to your classroom can have a strong impact on classroom management. Because it makes building rapport and influence easier. It improves listening and the desire to pay attention. It draws students to you, makes you more likable, and helps create an … Read more
This can be a serious time for teachers. You have so much to do, so much to get right. Routines, procedures, rules, consequences, policies, expectations. They all need to be taught in detail, modeled, and practiced. Then reviewed again and again. You have to … 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
You offer encouragement. You give reminders. You supply wisdom and inspiration you hope will make an impact. But your words fall on deaf ears. Nothing you say to your most challenging students seems to make a difference. They continue to misbehave, ignore your advice, … Read more
The importance of having good rapport with students can’t be overstated. Because rapport gives you leverage. It gives you leadership presence and the influence to change behavior. It causes students to want to listen, learn, and behave for you—even when they’re hellions with other … Read more
One of the keys to effective classroom management is to build relationships with students. Making personal connections–through humor, kindness, likeability, and more–is a powerful way to influence behavior. It can also be astonishingly rewarding. The give-and-take with students, the trusting rapport, the shared affection–these … Read more