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Smart Classroom Management - Education & Personal Development
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How To Encourage Difficult Students Smart Classroom Management
Assuming you’re following the SCM approach to transforming difficult students, there are two powerful ways you can encourage them along their journey. But first, it’s important to note that if you stray from these two and instead let your emotions get the better of ... Read more
How To Transform Difficult Students Smart Classroom Management
Smart Classroom Management now has a YouTube channel. Our plan is to post long-form videos that cover the core principles of effective classroom management. Think of it as a classroom management school to take you from novice to expert. Our new video is called ... Read more
How Teachers Mess Up The Amazing Benefits Of Routines Smart Classroom Management
Recently, I watched a second grade teacher walking her class to lunch. She was leading from the front and extremely active. She would stop often to guide her students with her hands, fuss with their lunch boxes, and remind them to stay in line. ... Read more
Why Accountability Isn't Working In Your Classroom Smart Classroom Management
If accountability isn’t working in your classroom, whether individually or class wide, the problem is that you have an area of weakness. The solution is to identify the weakness and correct it. Remember, effective classroom management is knowledge based. Apply SCM strategies as described ... Read more
21 Annoying Student Behaviors That Are Indeed Enforceable Smart Classroom Management
Teachers ask me frequently if minor but annoying student behaviors are enforceable. They give me examples and want my opinion. This happens so often that I thought I would create a list of the most common that are indeed enforceable. A quick note, however: ... Read more
The Secret Classroom Management Strategy Of Highly Effective Teachers Smart Classroom Management
There is a classroom management strategy that hums along in the background of the most effective teachers. You can’t see this strategy. It isn’t applied once and reused when needed. It isn’t a step-by-step, how-to process. I don’t believe it’s ever been revealed in ... Read more
When To Reteach Your Classroom Rules Smart Classroom Management
After you’ve taught your classroom rules, you will be tested. Count on it. Sometimes it will be immediate and sometimes misbehavior will trickle in later in the week. No matter, you must follow through precisely as you taught and promised. Student breaks rule and ... Read more
The Most Important Thing On The First Day Of School Smart Classroom Management
Teaching your classroom management plan is critical on the first day of school. 100 percent, cannot be missed. It’s also smart to begin modeling and practicing basic routines, setting high work-habit expectations, and teaching at least one great academic lesson. All are essential elements, ... Read more
Why Establishing Classroom Management Is Easier In August Smart Classroom Management
For many teachers, you get one shot. If you don’t establish effective classroom management within the first few days of school, you’ll never get there. The window opens the moment the bell rings on day one and closes less than three weeks later. Because, ... Read more
How To Infuriate A Concerned Parent Smart Classroom Management
A parent comes to you after school just as you’re sitting down to do some planning. They stop and wait at the door, a look of mild concern on their face. You sigh and approach, annoyed at the interruption. Here’s what to do if ... Read more
How To Be More Consistent Next School Year Smart Classroom Management
There is a simple, ten-minute exercise you can do this summer that will all but guarantee better consistency next school year. All it takes is a piece of paper and something to write with. I’ve described this particular exercise before. However, it begs repeating ... Read more
How To Teach Easy Lessons That Students Love Smart Classroom Management
“I shouldn’t have to entertain my students.” “I don’t have all day to lesson plan.” “I can’t compete with video games and social media.” These are common teacher frustrations. I’ve heard them a million times. And they’re all true. But here’s the thing: You ... Read more
Why Your Students Should Read Books, Not Screens Smart Classroom Management
While observing classrooms, it’s common for me to see students staring at screens during independent reading time. Chromebooks mainly but also tablets and, in some cases, even phones. But, why? Are screens better at improving reading than actual books? Do they deepen comprehension, speed ... Read more
Your 2024-25 Smart Classroom Management Report Card Smart Classroom Management
At the end of every school year we post a report card for teachers. The purpose is to assess the extent you were able to follow the principles of Smart Classroom Management. The exercise takes just a few minutes, but the experience is invaluable. ... Read more
Why You Should Stop Using Video To Teach Smart Classroom Management
I was observing a teacher recently who left me dumbfounded. I was sitting in the back of the room with the principal, who was there for the teacher’s formal observation. The lesson was about three-dimensional shapes. But instead of taking the lead, the teacher ... Read more
Why You Must Keep Teaching Until The Last Day Of School Smart Classroom Management
It doesn’t matter whether you have a week left in the school year or a single day, just like any other break, be it winter or spring, you must keep pushing the envelop. This doesn’t mean that you can’t schedule more learning games or ... Read more
How To Teach In The AI Era Smart Classroom Management
According to a recent article in New York magazine, nearly every student is using AI to cheat their way through college. It’s happening in high school and lower grades too. Sad and troubling, of course. But here at SCM we accept what we cannot ... Read more
Why Sending Students To The Principal Is A Mistake Smart Classroom Management
There are rare times when you do need to send a student to the principal. But only for the following reasons: Violence Threats of violence Weapons Drugs Fighting Continued or severe bullying In other words, anything dangerous. The reason is to protect yourself legally, ... Read more
Why You Should Never Share Social Media With Students Smart Classroom Management
Much like teachers allowing students to listen to music when their entire focus should be on learning, this one caught me by surprise. Evidently, there are teachers sharing their personal social-media pages with students. A message from a reader clued me in. I was ... Read more
Why You Need A Student Leadership Team Smart Classroom Management
Every year, I ask three or four students with natural leadership ability to be part of my leadership team. I meet with them once a week or so. It’s informal, and the meetings don’t last long. I also don’t mind if others join in. ... Read more
How To Handle A Student Who Yells "But I Didn't Do Anything!" Smart Classroom Management
A student breaks a common classroom rule like forgetting to raise their hand. No big deal. It happens. So you calmly give a warning. And Mount Vesuvius erupts. The student crosses their arms, glares at you, and yells, “But I didn’t do anything!” You ... Read more
How To Handle Pesky, Advantageous Inattentiveness Smart Classroom Management
You have good classroom management. Your students like and respect you. They follow your directions and are attentive while you’re speaking. Yet, the second you look away, even for a brief moment, you lose them and the momentum of your lesson. You’re able to ... Read more
How To Handle Your Students' Smart Phone Withdrawal Smart Classroom Management
Since the advent of the smart phone, interest in acquiring academic skill and knowledge has dwindled. This is undeniably true. Kids spend hour upon hour every day scrolling hits of dopamine and it’s crushed their desire to learn. Even worse, once their phones are ... Read more
How To Actually Apply "High Expectations" Smart Classroom Management
The importance of having high expectations for students is thrown about so often that it’s lost any real meaning. It rolls off the tongue like a royal decree. “Thou maketh high expectations!” On cue, everyone nods along—Oh yes, yes, so important—while afraid to ask ... Read more
Why YOU Shouldn't Correct Wrong Answers Smart Classroom Management
The culture of teaching demands that you correct every wrong answer for every student for every assignment AND ensure they understand what they did wrong. It’s on you. This is, of course, time-consuming. It’s also stressful and frustrating given that most students don’t seem ... Read more
How To Program Your Subconscious For Teaching Success Smart Classroom Management
Here at SCM, we talk a lot about the importance of having a vision of your ideal class. Of seeing your students, like a movie in your mind . . . focused and learning. interacting politely. following rules. performing routines. participating eagerly. working together. ... Read more
Why Consistency Equals Compassion Smart Classroom Management
When a student misbehaves, giving them a reminder or otherwise letting them off the hook can feel like the right thing to do. Because we’re compassionate. Students have a history. Some have been through a lot. Mistakes happen and we want to believe they’ll ... Read more
The Easiest Classroom Management Strategy With the Greatest Benefit Smart Classroom Management
There is one thing you can do right now that will . . . improve behavior lower your stress build better rapport save time In other words, make teaching more fun and effective. Here at SCM we’ve been shouting this strategy from the rooftops ... Read more
How to Jump-Start a Stale, Boring Classroom Smart Classroom Management
This time of year it isn’t uncommon for students to become particularly uninspired. It’s the same-old/same-old syndrome. Every day feels like the one before and motivation ratchets downward. Some simple things you can do to help reverse the trend include: changing up your seating ... Read more
The Danger of Reminding Well-Behaved Students Smart Classroom Management
It’s so easy to do. One of your smart, capable, polite, well-groomed, athletic, and/or charismatic students accidentally and ever-so-briefly breaks a class rule, and you smile and give them a gentle reminder. You trust them, after all. It was a mistake, after all. They ... Read more
How To Handle A Disrespectful Class Clown Smart Classroom Management
Many years ago I read The Adventures of Robin Hood aloud to my 5th grade class. One day in the middle of teaching an unrelated lesson a student yelled out “Hey, when are we gonna read Peter Pan?” It was funny. The entire class ... Read more
Should You Give Consequences Privately? Smart Classroom Management
At first glance, the answer just might be yes. It makes sense, right? A student misbehaves and you give them a hand signal letting them know which rule was broken and the consequence. The benefits are: It’s quiet. It’s quick. It’s discreet. It’s respectful. ... Read more
When To Praise Students So It Matters Smart Classroom Management
The first article ever written at SCM was about praise; subtle, meaningful praise given at just the right moment. The kind that boosts motivation like a rocket ship. Common in this day and age is for teachers to throw out praise like they’re feeding ... Read more
A Simple Way To Improve Listening Smart Classroom Management
Okay, I won’t bury the lede. When students are doing, stop talking. Most teachers—yes, most—talk students through just about everything. Lining up to leave the room. Getting into groups. Starting work. Walking down the hall. Putting away materials. Playing a learning game. You name ... Read more
The Yin And Yang Of Classroom Management Smart Classroom Management
A danger in trying to improve classroom management is that you tighten up. You become more tense and wooden. You’re so intent on following your classroom management plan and holding students accountable that it changes your personality. Somewhere in the back of your mind ... Read more
11 Things Teachers Should Say No To Smart Classroom Management
Stress is crushing teachers, but there are things you can do to alleviate it. In fact, with a comprehensive approach, you can all but eliminate it. It’s a topic I’m hard at work developing here at SCM. (More details to follow.) But one of ... Read more
The Best Of Smart Classroom Management 2024 Smart Classroom Management
Hello Amazing Teachers! On behalf of the entire SCM team, I want to say “Thank you!” Your willingness to share our website with your friends and colleagues keeps us going strong. I’m eternally grateful. 2025 marks our 16th year, and we have no intention ... Read more
Why You Must Be Relentlessly Honest With Students Smart Classroom Management
In the eyes of students, the following are lies: You have class rules, but don’t always follow them. You preach kindness, but don’t practice it yourself. You have deadlines, but accept late work. You promise interesting lessons, but don’t deliver. You teach routines, but ... Read more
Time-Out For High School Students? Say What?! Smart Classroom Management
There is odd consensus that you can only use time-out for elementary-age students. This is silly. There is nothing wrong with removing a student who is interfering with the rights of others to learn and enjoy school. No one is too old. If I ... Read more
How To Handle A Student Who Talks Back Smart Classroom Management
Not much fires a teacher up more than a student talking back. It has a special way of getting under the skin because . . . It’s blatantly disrespectful. It typically happens in front of the class. It directly challenges your authority. How you ... Read more