What if while on vacation a coconut fell from a tree, bonked you on the head, and took away your ability to get annoyed at your students? You’d never lecture again. You’d never sigh, glare, or shake your head in frustration. You’d never scold … Read more
It’s seems likely we’ll be going back to school in the fall. What exactly that will look like is anyone’s guess. Early reports suggest that it may be a hybrid between online and in-school learning, with staggered start times and rotating schedules to limit … Read more
The end of the day or period can be a chaotic time. You may be distracted, passing things out or giving last-minute instruction. Your students, poised to leave, may not be so attentive. Voices get loud. Misbehavior tends to increase. And holding students accountable … Read more
As the holiday season ramps up, students become antsier. They can feel the midyear break just around the corner. And their excitement builds day by day. The weather, the music, the traditions. The decorations, the lights, the commercials. Despite how much your school may … Read more
A calm disposition can sweep excitability right out of your classroom. It can improve listening and attentiveness. It can curb misbehavior and accelerate maturity. It can also make you a more effective teacher. But inevitably, whenever I write about its importance, the question of … Read more
Keeping a calm, unruffled temperament makes classroom management easier. It effectively removes excitability, which is a major cause of misbehavior. It makes you more likable and worthy of trust. It gives you leadership presence and allows you to build effortless rapport. But for many … Read more
Spend a day visiting classrooms at your neighborhood school and you’ll find many buzzing with tension. It’s a disconcerting sensation that hits you the moment you step through the door, making you all but gyrate with heebie-jeebies. For students, who are unable to escape … Read more
There is a compulsion among teachers to react too quickly to misbehavior. As soon as it shows up on their radar, they’re on it in a flash, making judgments and decisions before fully understanding what it is. Teachers with this compulsion tend to take … Read more