“Stop putting your hot breath on me,” one girl yells from the back of the classroom. It’s the same boy targeted every single time, and it seems that no matter where you move him, there’s a problem. At first you think he’s doing something to upset people because you never catch anyone else doing anything. […]
Classroom Management
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Classroom Management, Current Events in Education, From the Front Lines
What Are We Teaching Teens About Making Excuses?
I get really tired of excuses. In fact, in my classroom when my 8th graders try to excuse their behavior, lack of homework, or unpreparedness I tell them kindly yet firmly, “Excuses are useless.” Initially quizzical looks form on their faces, and then they start to stammer…which is exactly when I interject my reasoning. […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Middle School
Life in the Middle… School That Is!
For many students success in middle school can determine whether or not they can navigate high school and leave with a diploma. This fact means that we as middle school teachers should guide our students to think on their own and make wise choices. While teaching 8th grade, I would begin the year giving more […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured
Hold That Pen! 5 Things to Try Before a Write-Up
Classroom management is a huge part of being an effective teacher. In many schools, administrators judge effectiveness with classroom management by the number of times you write-up a student. Aside from this fact, there are several good reasons not to write students up and send them to the office. First of all, if you write-up a student […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Current Events in Education, Elementary School
But What if They Reflect?
I have never been a traditional teacher. This year I removed most of the desks from my classroom and have added a standing table, coffee tables and areas for students to work away from a desk. This has been an amazing transformation with many benefits. Last week the custodian was in my room and she […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Legal, Opinion, Social Studies, Uncategorized
20 More Weeks of Blizzards: A Groundhog's Day Pred-Election
Today marks the 129th year that Punxsutawney Phil (well, maybe the 30th version of him) will come out of his burrow to either see his shadow or not, declaring whether winter will be extended by 6 weeks, or whether spring is pending. However, after today, there’s still 20 more weeks of blizzards to endure. They […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instructional Strategies
Teaching the Basics in Education
My classroom is a non-traditional environment in education. Knowing that children are, children, my environment is designed to promote the way they learn best; through being able to wiggle around, get up and move if needed, make choices and decisions. and develop crucial social skills through working in small groups. For so many years early […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instructional Strategies
Six Common Sense Behavior Management Strategies That Really Work
No matter what grade level or subject you teach, you will always come into contact with students who either challenge your authority or disrupt the class in some way. Whether you have the student that constantly makes weird noises, the student constantly gets out of his or her seat, or the student who wants to argue […]