There was a viral video a few months ago of a teacher standing between two students who were arguing back and forth. The students were about a dozen feet apart. The teacher was facing one of the students when the other picked up a … Read more
It’s in vogue these days to bring the victim of bullying and their tormentor together for a guided chitchat. Depending on the “practice” the teacher uses, the conversation can proceed a few different ways. I won’t bore you with the various methodologies, but the … Read more
Kids are inclined to roughhouse. And they should be encouraged to do so. It’s good for them. It’s a healthy way to build relationships, release pent-up aggression, and lower stress levels. It’s good exercise and teaches limits and resiliency. According to research, it’s also … Read more
If the comments and emails from last week are any indication, there are a lot of bully principals out there. I’ve certainly met a few. They come in every size and shape, stripe and strata of education. And although their methods of torment may … Read more
This article is a long time coming. It’s been on the list of most-requested topics for several years now, and it’s high time we cover it. But it’s also been at the forefront of my mind. You see, a colleague recently tried to bully … Read more
With a single statement, spoken at the beginning of the day or class period, you can send a wave of calmness throughout your classroom. It takes just a few seconds, but you’ll see, and even feel, the difference immediately. You’ll also notice a greater … Read more
Roughhousing can be a tricky area of classroom management. Although nearly every teacher has a rule forbidding it, it can be difficult to get rid of. Especially once it gets a toehold in your classroom. Enforcement and consistency are key, of course. But because … Read more
A few years ago, I wrote a guide to eliminating bullying. It has since become a resource for schools and districts across the country. It’s fairly complete, so I’ll try not to cover the same ground here. But there is one thing the guide … Read more