Category: Education

Smart Classroom Management now has a YouTube channel. Our plan is to post long-form videos […]

Recently, I watched a second grade teacher walking her class to lunch. She was leading […]

Teachers ask me frequently if minor but annoying student behaviors are enforceable. They give me […]

If accountability isn’t working in your classroom, whether individually or class wide, the problem is […]

There is a classroom management strategy that hums along in the background of the most […]

After you’ve taught your classroom rules, you will be tested. Count on it. Sometimes it […]

For many teachers, you get one shot. If you don’t establish effective classroom management within […]

Teaching your classroom management plan is critical on the first day of school. 100 percent, […]

A parent comes to you after school just as you’re sitting down to do some […]

There is a simple, ten-minute exercise you can do this summer that will all but […]

There is a simple, ten-minute exercise you can do this summer that will all but […]

There is a simple, ten-minute exercise you can do this summer that will all but […]

“I shouldn’t have to entertain my students.” “I don’t have all day to lesson plan.” […]

While observing classrooms, it’s common for me to see students staring at screens during independent […]

At the end of every school year we post a report card for teachers. The […]

I was observing a teacher recently who left me dumbfounded. I was sitting in the […]

It doesn’t matter whether you have a week left in the school year or a […]

According to a recent article in New York magazine, nearly every student is using AI […]

There are rare times when you do need to send a student to the principal. […]

Much like teachers allowing students to listen to music when their entire focus should be […]

Every year, I ask three or four students with natural leadership ability to be part […]

A student breaks a common classroom rule like forgetting to raise their hand. No big […]

You have good classroom management. Your students like and respect you. They follow your directions […]

Since the advent of the smart phone, interest in acquiring academic skill and knowledge has […]

The importance of having high expectations for students is thrown about so often that it’s […]

The culture of teaching demands that you correct every wrong answer for every student for […]

Here at SCM, we talk a lot about the importance of having a vision of […]

When a student misbehaves, giving them a reminder or otherwise letting them off the hook […]

There is one thing you can do right now that will . . . improve […]

This time of year it isn’t uncommon for students to become particularly uninspired. It’s the […]

It’s so easy to do. One of your smart, capable, polite, well-groomed, athletic, and/or charismatic […]

Many years ago I read The Adventures of Robin Hood aloud to my 5th grade […]

At first glance, the answer just might be yes. It makes sense, right? A student […]

The first article ever written at SCM was about praise; subtle, meaningful praise given at […]

Okay, I won’t bury the lede. When students are doing, stop talking. Most teachers—yes, most—talk […]

A danger in trying to improve classroom management is that you tighten up. You become […]

Stress is crushing teachers, but there are things you can do to alleviate it. In […]

Hello Amazing Teachers! On behalf of the entire SCM team, I want to say “Thank […]

In the eyes of students, the following are lies: You have class rules, but don’t […]

There is odd consensus that you can only use time-out for elementary-age students. This is […]

Not much fires a teacher up more than a student talking back. It has a […]

In Malcom Gladwell’s 2003 book Blink, he describes how experts can know what they know […]

Kneeling down to a student’s eye level to discuss behavior or impart an important lesson […]

The ability to get your students’ attention anytime you need it is critical for good […]

Several years ago, a colleague confided in me that she was afraid to hold her […]

How you give a consequence matters. It’s not just do or not do. The way […]

Last week, I wrote about how to fix time-out if it isn’t working. And I […]

Stress is not only bad for your health, but it makes you a worse teacher. […]

Expect pushback and challenges to your authority during the first few weeks of school, especially […]

One reason many teachers struggle with misbehavior, disrespect, and the like is because they’re not […]

Here at SCM we love shortcuts. We love saving time, lowering stress, and simplifying everything […]

How to plan for a substitute teacher in a way that ensures good behavior is […]

Here at SCM, we get many questions about the letter-home consequence. For the uninitiated, a […]

Whenever your students are performing a routine, you must observe them closely. There are three […]

Many years ago, my 4th grade class took part in a school-wide science fair. There […]

I’m not an expert in autism. Nor do I have a degree or teaching credential […]

Understanding time-out, its purpose and function, is key to its effectiveness. Yet, as I visit […]

I’m not an expert in autism. Nor do I have a degree or teaching credential […]

Many years ago, my 4th grade class took part in a school-wide science fair. There […]

Whenever your students are performing a routine, you must observe them closely. There are three […]

Here at SCM, we get many questions about the letter-home consequence. For the uninitiated, a […]

How to plan for a substitute teacher in a way that ensures good behavior is […]

Here at SCM we love shortcuts. We love saving time, lowering stress, and simplifying everything […]

One reason many teachers struggle with misbehavior, disrespect, and the like is because they’re not […]

Expect pushback and challenges to your authority during the first few weeks of school, especially […]

Stress is not only bad for your health, but it makes you a worse teacher. […]

The SCM approach is built on simplicity. Although it takes commitment, and there is a […]

It’s a common question here at SCM. Should you teach your classroom management plan immediately […]

It’s critical that you create a culture conducive to excellent behavior. Indeed, and of course. […]

The lie isn’t that childhood trauma doesn’t exist. Of course it does. Some of our […]

I’ve spoken to thousands of teachers about their classroom management struggles. They all have much […]

Now that your school year is over, it’s time to make a commitment. By commitment, […]

Your personal 2023-24 Smart Classroom Management report card is here! To review, the SCM report […]

Here’s the scenario: You witness a student break a rule, so you enforce a consequence. […]

Many years ago, before I started SCM, a district administrator who knew of my fascination […]

A common scenario: A student disrupts your class and you deliver a consequence. All good. […]

For students who are motivated and determined to do well, group work is an exercise […]

I’ve been writing here at SCM for 15 years. 748 articles. 12 books and e-guides. […]

I know full well the opposing arguments. It’s outdated. It’s subjective. It’s discriminatory. It’s discouraging. […]

Here at SCM we talk a lot about the importance of letting your classroom management […]

“Can we skip grammar practice just this one time?” “Can we have an extra day […]

This time of year things tend to get sloppy. Students are feeling the lazy pangs […]

The jettisoning of firm consequences in favor of a purely restorative approach has caused more […]

Well, it isn’t trickery. It isn’t manipulation, bribery, or intimidation. It isn’t lecturing or one-on-one […]

I can tell how effective a teacher is before seeing them in action. I just […]

Have you heard of pressure passes? They’re slips of red or yellow paper that allow […]

Your classroom management plan is a small part of effective classroom management. It’s critical and […]

If you stress over the possibility of misbehavior, then it’s a sign your classroom management […]

Redirection as a classroom management strategy is common, accepted, and wholly uncontroversial. Touted from Baja […]

Typically, when I walk a class across campus I let them do so without my […]

There was a viral video a few months ago of a teacher standing between two […]

I happened to see an email from a teacher designating a list of students as […]

No, you don’t have to be riotously funny. You don’t have to prepare daily jokes […]

No, you’re not going to trick your students. Here at SCM, we oppose all manipulative […]

Hello Amazing Readers, On behalf of SCM, I want to say “Thank you!” Your support […]

Misbehavior tends to increase as we edge closer to holiday break. It’s a phenomenon as […]

The SCM principle of being consistently pleasant has many and tremendous benefits. Chief among them […]

If you get annoyed when your students misbehave, then it’s going to lead to more […]

To be an effective teacher it’s critical to continually push your students to get better […]

Going a day without modeling is like gardening without a trowel. Because modeling engages students. […]

There is a simple way to improve classroom culture that works fast but actually moves […]

Your temperament will transfer to your students like Covid in a college dorm. Thus, your […]

I speak to a lot of teachers who’ve been struggling with classroom management for years. […]

Things happen. Interruptions fall from the sky. Events and incidents out of your control invade […]

It could be a grade-level leader or department chair, co-teacher or seen-it-all veteran, or maybe […]

They’re needy and urgent. They follow you around and pull on your hem. They ask […]