Warning: This article describes a strategy that is controversial. It’s not controversial for us here at SCM. It’s something we’ve been doing and recommending for many years. However, the education establishment is aghast at our approach. For example, the standard advice when a student … Read more
The culture of teaching demands that you correct every wrong answer for every student for every assignment AND ensure they understand what they did wrong. It’s on you. This is, of course, time-consuming. It’s also stressful and frustrating given that most students don’t seem … Read more
I’ve occasionally been asked what one piece of advice I’d give to all teachers. It’s a daunting question. Truth be told, I’d want to mention a dozen or so core areas that work together to create a productive, well-behaved classroom. (In other words, become … Read more
Here at SCM, we’ve talked a lot about the importance of making your praise worthy. That is, praise that is based on true accomplishment. —Which can be defined as achievement, excellence, or effort beyond what is commonly expected. In this way, we support the … Read more
Recently, I got a new group of students for a high school class I was teaching. Then a few days later, I came down with the flu. It was awful. It took me three weeks to shake and I missed more than a week … Read more
If you’re a regular reader of SCM, then you know how I feel about rewarding students in exchange for good (i.e. expected) behavior. A do-this-and-get-that approach to classroom management is damaging to kids. It snuffs out intrinsic motivation and turns the student-teacher relationship into … Read more
You praise. You encourage. You pep-talk, demand, and implore. But nothing seems to change. Trying and failing to motivate unmotivated students is a common frustration among teachers. It’s a frustration with seemingly no real answers beyond the same old, same old. Until today. Because … Read more
Encouraging students is in our DNA. It’s part and parcel to our educational culture. It’s what we do. We teach a lesson and then we encourage. “You can do it.” “Just keep working and you’ll get it.” “I believe in you.” And in the … Read more