The more polite students are, the fewer class rules are broken. Therefore, if we improve politeness, then we can save a lot of time and trouble holding students accountable. The problem, however, is that teaching politeness doesn’t work. Not in this day and age. … Read more
Having energetic students isn’t a bad thing. In fact, there are three big advantages: They’re primed for learning. They’re fun to teach. They’re eager to participate. However, they’re also prone to excessive talking and disruptive behavior. Therefore, even if you have solid classroom management … Read more
If you’re like most teachers, you’re in a hurry for much of the school day. Your curriculum is packed. Your schedule is overloaded. You never have enough time. And you’ve been led to believe that there is nothing you can do about it. Rushing … Read more
No, not freely. Students should never be allowed to talk socially in class whenever they wish. However, when narrowly defined, giving your students the option to talk with their friends for a minute or two during the school day is a smart idea. Here’s … Read more
The classroom management secret, as defined in the book of the same name, is this: Creating a classroom your students love being part of combined with an unwavering commitment to accountability. Every one of the hundreds of SCM strategies support this definition as well … Read more
One of the most common questions I receive is: “How can I allow for free-flowing discussion given the SCM rule about hand raising?” This is a great question because at first glance our classroom management plans don’t allow for open, back-and-forth interaction among students … Read more
As I write this, I’m staying overnight in the Phoenix airport. My flight was diverted mid-flight on the way home to San Diego because a plane was stuck on the finest city’s one and only runway. So 238 of us are trying to get … Read more
The lie isn’t that childhood trauma doesn’t exist. Of course it does. Some of our students have been abused and neglected. Others have witnessed violence, criminality, drug use, and indescribable family strife. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Adverse childhood experiences can have … Read more