I have a great group of students again this year, great in so many ways. But, they are not so great at picking partner groups! I have a number of students who always want to work with the same people, some people that are actually fought over, and some people who are never chosen. I […]
Classroom Behavior Trackers
I’m about half-way through the school year, and two weeks back from winter break. Behaviors I worked so hard to fix-up and manage are now creeping back after the time away. It’s time to bring back the behavior trackers and send those negative behaviors packing! Do you use behavior trackers to help reward positive student […]
Make Some Classroom Noise – Or Not!
Happy New Year! Make some noise for… Noise is actually my topic today. We all know that a classroom can’t be completely silent but we also know that kids need quiet when they’re reading, writing and working independently. But we also know that kids like to talk and make noise. So managing the noise level […]
Creating Purposeful Classroom Partnerships
I love when students learn from one another and I hear the buzz and hum of engaged learning conversations. When partnerships are successful, it’s amazing what learning occurs! It’s taken me awhile to adjust, and readjust how I form learning partnerships. In my classroom, I assign long-term partnerships in math, writing, and reading. These partners […]
Self-Awareness Chart Freebie
I love this quote from Daniel Goleman, “If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able ego mange your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.” This quote justifies the […]
Remember the Behavior ABCs
One of my favorite professors in college, James Jacobs, always said a quote that has stuck with me all these years. He would say “If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always gotten.” This has been such a powerful statement for me to remember over the […]
Keep Students Busy With Cups!
Deltoids + biceps = raising your hand to get your teacher’s attention. Deltoids + biceps + more than 20 seconds = muscle fatigue. Muscle fatigue in primary kiddos leads to either: a) student(s) calling for you to come see them from across the room -or- b) student(s) following you around the room tapping or tugging […]
Following Directions! Huh?
Hey teaching friends! I don’t know about you, but I dread when I hear the word “huh?” It makes me cringe because I know I will have to explain everything again. For the 50th time. In the last 5 minutes. Well, I have come to realize that listening skills take some practice, like any other […]
Regaining Control of Your Classroom
We all know one. The person who has the out-of-control classroom. I’m not talking the class where students are out of their desks, a little louder than usual, but still learning — I’m talking the class where the teacher has lost control. There are a variety of ways to prevent this or at least keep the […]
Managing the Year with the Extremely Challenging Student
Today we have a guest blog post talking all about behavior management, which I am sure many can relate with during this time of the year. Enjoy! All teachers have had or will have an experience with an extremely challenging student. No matter the reason why, it can make for a very challenging year. […]
Deciding on Discipline
With the new year starting up, whether we like it or not, all teachers will have to know what the discipline policy will be in the classroom. You MIGHT have a “honeymoon” period of 1-3 days at the very start where the true colors have not come out yet, but even that is not a […]
Managing the Middle School Classroom: Three Golden Rules
Today’s blog entry is from guest blogger Mark Aaron! Great tips for classroom management! Beginning teachers are often taught about lesson planning, curriculum, objectives, and assessment. Those questions need to be deferred in place of a more fundamentally important question. Maybe it is overstating the obvious, but the core skill that must be successfully mastered […]
