Search Results for: classroom management

I was standing at the front of my fourth-period U.S. History class during the second semester of 2015, feeling pretty good about myself. I had spent the weekend crafting this incredible lesson on the New Deal, complete with primary sources and a mock congressional hearing. My sophomores were going to be so into it. About … Read more

I remember, vividly, standing mid-lecture in 2009, and everything looked perfect. My 28 students sat quietly; notebooks were open; nobody was on their phone or whispering to a neighbor. Any administrator walking through would have nodded approvingly. About fifteen minutes in, I asked a question requiring them to connect that day’s material to the previous … Read more

The classroom discipline plan you used five years ago probably won’t cut it today. I have worked with many K-12 teachers over the past several years, watching talented educators struggle with behavior problems that their training never prepared them for. The old model of posting classroom rules, listing consequences, and hoping that punitive measures would … Read more

When I meet with teachers during professional development sessions, the first thing they tell me isn’t about test scores. It’s about the daily friction: The student who won’t stop tapping, the three kids who finish everything in ten minutes, the quiet student in the back who hasn’t spoken in six weeks. These classroom challenges feel … Read more

Searching for student engagement tips that will actually transform your classroom into what you have always envisioned can be daunting. You see strategies that make sense in theory, others that would “never” work with your kids, and honestly? It is scary to try something new when you are already exhausted, and the rest of the … Read more

We all have our favorite ways to engage students in the classroom, but there is always room to find more in classroom activities that will get your students excited about learning. Whether you are a new or experienced teacher, there is no replacement for finding activities that your students will actually want to participate in. … Read more

There’s a moment that happens somewhere around the sixth week of the school year. You’re not thinking about it when it occurs. It just happens. A student drops their pencil case, and without a word, three others are on the floor helping. Another child shares something personal during morning meeting, and the room sits in … Read more

When I started my first year teaching high school social studies back in 2007, I thought student engagement meant keeping everyone busy and entertained. I spent countless Sunday evenings hunting for flashy activities, convinced that if my students were laughing and moving, they were learning. I was wrong. In 2018, I became an instructional coach … Read more

Have you ever noticed that when something goes wrong, a communication breakdown is often at the root? This underscores why, as educators, it is essential to establish clear, reliable methods for fostering effective classroom communication. Whether between students, colleagues, families, or between teacher and student, good communication in the classroom is foundational to a positive … Read more

Creating a dynamic and effective learning environment hinges on a teacher’s ability to foster genuine student engagement. This concept of student engagement is multifaceted, encompassing behavioral engagement (actions and active participation), cognitive engagement (critical thinking and the struggle for a correct answer), and emotional engagement (investment and connection to the subject matter). A well-considered plan … Read more

Here’s the thing about classroom management that I’ve learned over the years: structure isn’t about control. It’s about freedom. When you’re standing in front of twenty-five students who are all moving at different speeds, the difference between chaos and productivity often comes down to one simple tool. A timer for classroom activities tells students, “This … Read more