I just took down all the holiday decorations in my house, and everything is looking a little blah. That’s the problem with January: It can feel like a letdown because the holidays are over. Pep up the post-holiday season and motivate positive behavior with this engaging idea! Write fun but uncommon activities on separate index cards….
I just took the ACE test, which measures adverse childhood experiences. My result? It was a zero, which means I’m lucky. I grew up in a household that was supportive and loving. My parents didn’t abuse me, take drugs, have a mental illness, or get divorced. (Some sources say that the national average of 2…
One of the main reasons teachers leave the profession is due to challenges managing a classroom. In my totally subjective opinion, far too few colleges and universities do a good job of teaching education students how to deal with students who act out, how to manage classroom transitions, and how to handle disciplinary issues….
I was recently reminded, in a rather unusual way, of the many benefits that clear classroom behavior expectations provide. I’ll explain. This past summer, I moved into a home with a partially fenced backyard. As you know, I have a playful pup,…
The secret word for May 18, 2016, is listen. “Whaaaat?” you may ask. This is fun. Try it! Each time you read, hear, or speak the word listen, touch your right earlobe. Listen. Listen. Listen. Did you just touch your right earlobe three times? Hee, hee! Okay, now try it with your students. Tell your…
Yippee, skippee—spring is on its way! I’m so ready for the promise of sunny skies and delightfully warm temps. Just thinking about spring makes me want to shed my shoes and do a wild and crazy happy dance! Hmmmm, right now you’re probably thinking “Wow, I’m glad she’s not in my classroom.” :+) The truth…
Hindsight is 20/20 they say. And that’s never so true as when I look back on my time teaching. It makes me realize how certain discipline issues in my classroom were actually my fault. Yes, indeed! Did I do what I should have to prevent Student A from having a meltdown? Did I give Student B…