After the first two or three weeks of school you may be lulled into thinking that you have a great class. But too often, it’s the moment it all goes awry. I see it year after year. Teachers beaming and chatty at early staff … Read more
Almost every teacher does it. But is it effective? Is it effective to stop your lesson and wait on students who are talking? Well, yes and no. While it’s true that the strategy can help get wayward students back on track, it does little … Read more
It’s an all too common compulsion among teachers. Upon noticing a class routine going off the rails, they immediately jump in to try and correct it. They remind. They warn. They attempt to squelch the problem before it gets out of hand. It makes … Read more
It’s frustrating. You start your class working on an independent project, a writing assignment, or a rotation of centers, then begin quietly calling selected students for small-group instruction. And for the first few minutes it goes well. But just as you settle in and … Read more
So you’ve got this awesome science lesson planned. The materials are all laid out. Your lab coat is hanging on a hook behind your desk. Your fake horned-rims are dangling conspicuously from the breast pocket. Your students know they’re in for a cool learning … Read more
It’s a question I get a lot. What do you do when most of your class is misbehaving? Say you notice twelve, fifteen, or more students talking and goofing around during a lesson or in the middle of a transition. How should you handle … Read more