5 Classroom Management Strategies to Use When Students Won’t Work Independently

classroom management Dec 06, 2023

Let’s face it, some students seem completely unable to work independently, either because of their own perceived self-belief that they can’t do it, or because they just refuse to work alone. Of course, not every activity can be a group activity, and you can’t be holding students’ hands at every turn. So, what can we do to promote independent study?  

1. Set...

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23 Classroom Management Strategies To Quiet Noisy Students

classroom management Dec 01, 2023

If you struggle with chatty, noisy students, these strategies will certainly help. Teachers using these classroom management ideas can gain immediate attention in any lesson with noisy young people aged 6-16, just like these two ladies did...  

“It made my naughtiest student as quiet as a mouse!” 
 
“Thank you so much for the superbly wonderful videos! I...

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Classroom Management Responses for...Students Not Bringing Equipment to Class

This is one of those seemingly unimportant management issues which is often swept under the carpet by a teacher who is frantically trying to concentrate efforts on more serious issues. In a lively class, when you’ve got Mary and Matilda cat fighting, Liam smoking, Carl spitting on Graham, Steven chucking text books at Johnny, and Paul making lewd comments about the support...

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The Hidden Dangers of Teacher Stress (And What You Can Do About It)

According to a recent survey, teachers are at breaking point trying to cope with the relentless pressures and many  plan to leave the profession in record numbers.

82% of teachers describe their workload as 'unmanageable'

The survey, carried out by the Guardian Teacher Network, found many teachers are at crisis point. Almost all – 98% – said they are under increasing pressure...

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8 Classroom Management Strategies for Dealing with Interruptions and Constant Chatter

classroom management Mar 29, 2023

A lesson doesn’t necessarily have to be totally silent in order to be a success – unless you’re Marcel Marceau delivering his famous ‘a life in mime’ lecture – but if noise levels rise to the point where they are affecting others, it’s time to take action. Here are some things to consider. 

1. Assess your delivery. 

Have you been talking too...

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Classroom Management for Supply Teachers, Substitute Teachers and Cover Supervisors

classroom management Mar 23, 2023

Classroom management can be especially hard when you’re a supply or substitute teacher. You don’t know the class, so don’t know the malleable students from the challenging ones. What’s more, these students don’t knowyouand some of them are going to test your boundaries. They’re going to find it fun to see how much they can get away with. 

So how do you...

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How to Get Silence in Your Classroom in a Few Seconds 

This is a very simple classroom management strategy which I use at seminars and workshops to demonstrate the power of giving students responsibility for their own behaviour. Not only can this technique get a group of students quiet in as little as 10 seconds, it also strengthens staff/student relationships, injects a little humour into the session and gives challenging students the attention...

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What to do when your students have NO interest in your lesson – 11 classroom management strategies to increase engagement and involvement

A student who has no interest in lessons (i.e. anything you say and do) can have a terrible impact on the rest of the class. What you must remember however is that this student probably wants to succeed – most do, at heart – but has virtually given up due to a succession of failures, discouragement and low self-image. It may take time to reach this student and help them see life...

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The simple switch for improving classroom behaviour

Uncategorized Jun 14, 2022

I started teaching 25 years ago – and despite nearly three decades worth of experience, the incredible power of positive feedback for correcting or redirecting a child’s behaviour still utterly amazes me. 

My 7-year-old daughter had her best friend around for tea recently. The two of them had been talking about it all week and were very excited. I knew it was always going to be...

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The Danger of Using Rewards for Positive Reinforcement

Uncategorized May 24, 2022

This extract from my book Take Control of the Noisy Class (available on Amazon) highlights some of the problems associated with an over-reliance on reward schemes and other 'control methods' in the classroom. (the book also goes on to suggest other, more appropriate ways of acknowledging positive behaviour).

The most commonly used motivational strategies in schools usually involve some kind of...

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