1. How you manage your classroom will determine whether or not you are a successful teacher.

2. Topics to be discussed on the first day of school are extremely important. If a teacher does it right, it sets a great tone for the year!  Student Agreement/Syllabus  Rules/Procedures  Expectations  Successful  Okay to be wrong  Directions to high school  Green Eggs & Ham  Emergency/Fire Drill  Seating Chart  Share enthusiasm/excitement GREET AT THE DOOR!!!

3. The #1 problem encountered by teachers in the classroom is NOT discipline, but rather the lack of structures and procedures.  Classroom management is like an offensive lineman, in that they’re only noticed when something goes wrong.  Once it’s gone, you can never get it back.

4.  Have them for almost everything  Entering and exiting the room  Homework Procedures  Materials - where they’re located Have a “location” (dry erase board, easel, bulletin board, etc.) where that day’s expectations can be seen by students when they enter the room. *Learning and creativity should be free flowing but behavior needs to be directed with procedures.

5.  Make the punishment fit the behavior (crime), not your level of frustration.  Handle discipline discreetly.  Learn what to overlook.  Avoid power struggles with kids.  “What hill do you wanna die on?” Have rules, but not too many *Handle as much as you can on your own without it allowing it to take away from learning.

6. If kids think you care, they’ll behave.  Show concern, not aggravation.  “You were behaving a little inappropriate and it’s so unlike you.”  “I know something must be bothering you for you to act that way so I just want you to know I’m here if you need to talk.”  Made the point the behavior is inappropriate.  Maintained students dignity.  Acted out of concern, not frustration.  Let the student know you care about them. What have you accomplished?

7. Make the students feel welcomed. (It might be the only greeting they’ll get all day.)  Greeters (Walmart, Restaurants, Airplanes)  People appreciate and respond to environments where they feel welcome.  Students who feel more welcome are more likely to “buy” what you’re “selling.”

8. When you observe positive behaviors, reward them.  Bomb de-activators (for when they “bomb” a test/quiz)  Homework passes  Mystery Motivators – reward them with something that appeals to them Teachers are trained to recognize problems, diagnose the cause and respond accordingly. Why not try these things on positive behaviors. “Thanks for _____________, it means a lot.”

9. By greeting kids at the door, you can see potential problems.  Problems in the cafeteria, a previous class, in the gym, home.  Send them somewhere  “Do you need a minute?”  “Why don’t you go get a drin.k”  Play messenger (blank envelope) *Recognize a potential before it becomes a actual problem.

10. Without a seating chart, “problem” students will gravitate to the back of the classroom. Even with assigned seats, problems tend to arise in the back of the room. MOVE AROUND!!  Get to the back of the room (or that’s where the problems will be)  Use what works for you without the “teacher eye” or verbal reprimand  Move problems up front *Physical distance = mental distance in the classroom

11. Don’t ask a question you aren’t prepared to hear the answer to. “How many times do I have to tell you?” “Do you have a problem?” Questions such as these provoke defensiveness and create power struggles.  Last word kids – no matter what you say, they will always get in the last word (cause they know it pushes your buttons.)  Yellers and screamers – eventually kids know its coming. They’ll tune you out and ride out the storm.

12. “Down time” – any time a student has nothing to do. Usually occurs at the end of the period or an assignment as a teacher “transitions” to their next class. Structure EVERY minute of the class period. “Teach” through the entire class. There are several activities that can be used when confronted with the possibility of down time.  Homework – Teach by the 10, 20, 10 method  A brain teaser, or problem of the week  Tickets out the door  DEAR time

13. Don’t be afraid to make promises to your students. Tell them what they can expect of you.  It makes you accountable to your students.  It will put your students at ease. “No one is going to work harder to see that you’re going to be successful.”  Let kids know that it’s ok to be wrong. (Hall of Fame baseball players are unsuccessful 7 out of 10 times.) When kids are feeling nervous or anxious, their brains focus solely on relieving the anxiety.

14. “Bell work” doesn’t have to be problems. It can be the procedures you’ve established at the beginning of the year.  Having proper materials/tools for that days lesson  Handing out homework to go over in class Get them working without knowing they are working. Get them busy, keep them busy, keep your sanity!

15. Don’t excuse the behavior, but still…attack the problem. Some of the struggles our students deal with are beyond the scope of what we have ever encountered in our classrooms, and for that matter, in our homes.