Classroom Management Techniques

A Teacher's Simple Strategy That Changed 30 Lives Every Morning Ever wondered how one small gesture can transform an entire classroom's energy? Let me share a powerful thing that's reshaping how we think about starting our school days. Here's how it works: Each student gets to choose their preferred way to start the day: - A gentle high-five - A quick hug - A friendly fist bump - A simple smile and nod - A quiet "good morning" The results? Remarkable. Students who once dragged themselves to class now arrive early, excited to make their choice. Anxiety levels dropped.  Class participation soared.  Even the most reserved students found their comfortable way to connect. What makes this approach powerful is its simplicity. It: - Respects personal boundaries - Builds trust - Creates a safe space - Teaches emotional awareness - Promotes daily positive interactions This isn't just about starting the day right – it's about teaching our children that their comfort matters, their choices count, and their well-being is priority. What if we all took a moment each day to ask others how they'd like to be greeted? Sometimes, the smallest changes create the biggest impact. #Education #TeachingInnovation #StudentWellbeing #ClassroomCulture #PersonalizedLearning

The quickest way to lose a class is to start with objectives. The quickest way to win them? Start with a question they actually want answered. When I taught Algebra I swapped “Today we’re learning linear functions” for: * "Could a paper airplane cross the length of a football field?"     * "How long would it take to walk to the top of Mount Everest—on a treadmill?" Heads lifted, pencils moved, and equations suddenly felt useful. Over the years I’ve kept one rule for any lesson I design: open with a curiosity hook that ties directly to the concept. A good hook is: * Short (under 15 seconds)     * Concrete (students can picture it)     * Connected (leads straight into the math)     Here’s what happens when curiosity leads the way: * Engagement rises before the slide deck even appears     * Students remember the concept because they remember the story     * Even the quiet kids take a shot at the first problem     If we want meaningful learning, we have to pay the curiosity tax first.

Scaffolding techniques are vital for supporting students with learning disabilities, as they provide structured, personalized pathways to understanding while honoring each learner’s unique needs. For students with dyslexia, tools like phonemic awareness activities, color-coded texts, and audio books can reinforce decoding and comprehension, allowing them to engage with content without being hindered by reading challenges. Those with dyscalculia benefit from hands-on manipulatives, visual models, and real-life math applications that make abstract concepts more concrete and accessible. Students with dysgraphia thrive when given graphic organizers, typing options, and chunked writing tasks that reduce cognitive overload and promote expression. For learners with ADHD, scaffolding might include clear routines, visual schedules, movement breaks, and task segmentation to maintain focus and reduce impulsivity. Meanwhile, students with auditory processing disorders need multimodal instruction such as written directions, visual supports, and opportunities for repetition to fully grasp spoken information. These scaffolds not only enhance student confidence and independence but also help teachers create inclusive environments where every learner can flourish. #AccessibleEducation

Your quiet students aren’t disengaged. They’re waiting for a lane to show up in your lesson design. If we only rely on raised hands and full-class discussions, we unintentionally sideline some of our most thoughtful, insightful students. Silence doesn’t mean apathy — it often means processing, observing, or uncertainty about how to safely enter the conversation. That’s where student-centered discourse routines and Instructional Activities (IAs) come in. Some of my go-tos? Silent Discussion, Decide & Defend, and Three Reads.They lower the stakes, invite thinking in different modalities, and build equity into daily instruction. 🎯 What’s your favorite way to make space for quieter students? Or drop your content area — I’ll share one you can try tomorrow. Equity isn’t about who can talk. It’s about who feels safe to. Build the lane. #EquityInAction #StudentCenteredTeaching #QuietKidsMatter #InstructionalActivities #DiscourseMoves #CulturallyResponsiveTeaching

Ensure all voices are heard by leaning into CURIOSITY! Designing inclusive working sessions can start by inviting questions from EVERYONE- for example, the technique below honors introverted voices and fosters diverse perspectives. Try out some of these practical techniques below in your next meeting or collaboration session… Quiet Reflection Time:  ↳ Create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts. Structured Brainstorming Sessions:  ↳ Ensure each participant has designated speaking time to reduce pressure. Rotating Facilitators:  ↳ Vary leadership styles and ensure diverse voices are heard throughout discussions. One-on-One Discussions or Smaller Group Settings:  ↳ Provide intimate settings where introverts can freely express their ideas. Techniques like this create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts. This approach isn't just about diversity. It's about harnessing the power of all perspectives. Together, we can foster environments where every voice contributes to success. Let's ensure that every team member feels empowered to bring their best to the table.

Ever notice how some leaders seem to have a sixth sense for meeting dynamics while others plow through their agenda oblivious to glazed eyes, side conversations, or everyone needing several "bio breaks" over the course of an hour? Research tells us executives consider 67% of virtual meetings failures, and a staggering 92% of employees admit to multitasking during meetings. After facilitating hundreds of in-person, virtual, and hybrid sessions, I've developed my "6 E's Framework" to transform the abstract concept of "reading the room" into concrete skills anyone can master. (This is exactly what I teach leaders and teams who want to dramatically improve their meeting and presentation effectiveness.) Here's what to look for and what to do: 1. Eye Contact: Notice where people are looking (or not looking). Are they making eye contact with you or staring at their devices? Position yourself strategically, be inclusive with your gaze, and respectfully acknowledge what you observe: "I notice several people checking watches, so I'll pick up the pace." 2. Energy: Feel the vibe - is it friendly, tense, distracted? Conduct quick energy check-ins ("On a scale of 1-10, what's your energy right now?"), pivot to more engaging topics when needed, and don't hesitate to amplify your own energy through voice modulation and expressive gestures. 3. Expectations: Regularly check if you're delivering what people expected. Start with clear objectives, check in throughout ("Am I addressing what you hoped we'd cover?"), and make progress visible by acknowledging completed agenda items. 4. Extraneous Activities: What are people doing besides paying attention? Get curious about side conversations without defensiveness: "I see some of you discussing something - I'd love to address those thoughts." Break up presentations with interactive elements like polls or small group discussions. 5. Explicit Feedback: Listen when someone directly tells you "we're confused" or "this is exactly what we needed." Remember, one vocal participant often represents others' unspoken feelings. Thank people for honest feedback and actively solicit input from quieter participants. 6. Engagement: Monitor who's participating and how. Create varied opportunities for people to engage with you, the content, and each other. Proactively invite (but don't force) participation from those less likely to speak up. I've shared my complete framework in the article in the comments below. In my coaching and workshops with executives and teams worldwide, I've seen these skills transform even the most dysfunctional meeting cultures -- and I'd be thrilled to help your company's speakers and meeting leaders, too. What meeting dynamics challenge do you find most difficult to navigate? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments! #presentationskills #virualmeetings #engagement

Do you struggle with tattling in your classroom or at home? As a teacher, I know how draining it can be to have 20-plus children coming up to you all day long and tattling. As a parent, it can be frustrating and make your weekends feel like you are putting out fire after fire. But why do children tattle? They don't know how to solve the problem themselves and come to us frustrated, angry, and sometimes sad. So how can we fix it? We can empower our children to believe they can solve problems themselves. I have my students repeat after me, "We are problem solvers. How do we solve the problem?" After repeating this phrase, my students reported not being upset, angry, or frustrated. They said they were confident and more joyful. We need to help shift their mindset. This simple shift in mindset has made a huge difference. Students go from feeling defeated to finding solutions to solve the problem independently. Problem-solve together. If they can't figure it out, they can bring another student into the conversation and process it together, with me as the mediator. I am not the one doing most of the work they are. By doing this, I've noticed that the classroom environment is better because they know they can tackle challenging situations. Imagine a student coming up to you and saying they are having difficulty solving a problem and need your help. It has a very different feel to it, doesn't it? You can ask them what they have tried, whether it was successful, and what else they could try. Then, put their suggestion into practice and report to you to let you know if it worked or didn't. Do you have suggestions for empowering children to solve problems or curbing tattling? Let's discuss this in the comments. The post is based on my 30-plus years as an educator and coach. Imagine designed by Freepik. 🔆 Hi! My name is Christine 🔆 I am a teacher mentor 🔆 I am an International best seller 🔆 I create creative educational solutions 🔆 I engage and support my community daily 🔆 Ring my 🔔 for mindset, education, and inspirational content #ProblemSolving #EmpoweringChildren #ClassroomManagement

1. Refocus the Energy Then (2016): Redirect a student’s attention by engaging them in a task. Now: Invite the student into purpose. Example: Instead of: “Stop tapping the desk!” Try: “Can you help pass out the journals?” Or: “Let’s see who can get their materials out and ready the fastest—you lead.” Why it works: Children don’t always need a correction. Sometimes, they need a mission. 2. Give Students a Break Then: Offer short mental or physical breaks to reset focus. Now: Normalize breaks as brain regulation. Example: “You’ve been working hard—take two minutes at the calm table.” Or for younger kids: “Let’s visit the breathing corner.” Pro tip: Let breaks be chosen—not assigned as punishment. Empowerment changes everything. 3. Use Non-Verbal Cues Then: Use eye contact, gestures, or signals. Now: Make cues a shared language. Example: Tap the desk twice = Eyes on me. Hand on heart = Remember our classroom promise. Current child need: Visual learners, neurodivergent students, and anxious learners benefit from predictable, non-verbal systems. 4. Address the Disruption Quickly and Quietly Then: Handle problems without embarrassing the student. Now: Preserve dignity as a sacred practice. Example: Walk over. Whisper: “Can we talk for a second after the activity?” Avoid: Correcting in front of peers or making it a “teachable moment” at the student’s expense. Today’s child: They are emotionally aware. They remember how you made them feel. 5. Offer Kinesthetic Movement Options Then: Allow students to move or stretch to release energy. Now: Build movement into daily structure. Example: “Would you like to stand and work today?” “We’re going to learn this vocabulary while clapping it out!” Brain breaks every 20–30 minutes. Why it works: Movement builds memory. Motion strengthens focus. Stillness isn't always engagement. 6. Give Anonymous Reminders Then: Remind the class without calling out specific students. Now: Use inclusive language that invites reflection. Example: “I notice some folks need a reminder about voice levels.” “Let’s all check ourselves—are we focused or distracted?” New suggestion: Use self-assessment cues: thumbs-up, sideways, or down behind the back to check in. Keeps ownership with the student. ✨ Final Thoughts This generation is different. They’re more sensitive, more aware, more expressive. Disruption isn’t always defiance. Sometimes it’s a cry for connection, a need for movement, a test of trust. As leaders, we don’t just teach reading. We set the conditions where children can think, feel, and thrive. This summer, reflect deeply. What are you willing to change so children don’t have to be changed to survive your classroom? #LavertLines™ #TeachTheBrain #DisciplineWithDignity

My hot take for the day is that the best thing to do in response to genAI in the classroom has nothing to do with genAI. Instead, we should use any disruption to double down on building classroom communities full of trust and an embrace of the frictionful state of learning. 1. Learn students’ names: perhaps one of the highest ROI things you can do to create a foundation for community. 2. Foster metacognitive habits: help student reflect on what they're learning and how. You want to build independent, active learners instead of passive receivers of information. 3. Teach with transparency: don't hide the ball. Put your motivations and pedagogical decisions on the table. 4. Communicate explicit learning objectives: tell them the point of every assignment and what they're supposed to get out of it. 5. Make communication policies clear: tell them how to get a hold of you and set expectations for when they can expect a response. h/t to Robert Talbert for this one. 6. Create frameworks for feedback: help them understand how to give and receive feedback. I really like @kimballscott's framework of Radical Candor for this. 7. Double down on active learning: get them engage in the work of learning. This is fun and often looks a lot like play! Don't just talk at them but get them talking to you and to each other. 8. Encourage experimentation: iterative improvement and failure is the way. 9. Cultivate community: help them fully leverage the rich relational web that is in the background of every classroom. This is so often untapped. 10. Connect individually with each student: it might be challenging, but do your best to get to know each student as an individual person. Feeling like you're seen and that you belong matters. 11. Build shared responsibility for learning: teacher and student both have to bring something to the table for learning in the classroom to happen. Call this out explicitly and have a conversation about what everyone is bringing. 12. Get alongside students: try to avoid being in front all the time but get beside your students so that they see you are on their side and wanting them to succeed. 13. Model vulnerability: when you mess up, and you will, own it. Much easier for them to do it if they see it from you. 14. Reframe from "have to" to "get to": everybody has some level of agency in their choice to be in the classroom. Remind everyone of the opportunity and privilege it is to be in a classroom. 15. Trust your students: what if you gave your students the benefit of the doubt and trusted them until they gave you a reason to do otherwise. 16. Offer opportunities for failure and retries: learning happens when we try, fail, reflect, and try again. 17. Embrace friction: learning, like any worthwhile activity, is hard work. Instead of looking for a frictionless experience where we accomplish things without effort, encourage students to dig into the worthwhile challenge of learning something new and growing.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 💡 Are your learning programs inadvertently excluding certain groups of employees? Let's face it: a one-size-fits-all approach in Learning and Development (L&D) can leave many behind, perpetuating inequity and stalling both individual and organizational growth. When learning opportunities aren't equitable, disparities in performance and career advancement become inevitable, weakening your workforce's overall potential. Here’s how to design inclusive L&D initiatives that cater to diverse learning needs and backgrounds: 📌 Conduct a Needs Assessment: Start by identifying the various demographics within your organization. Understand the unique challenges and barriers faced by different groups. This foundational step ensures your L&D programs are tailored to meet diverse needs. 📌 Develop Accessible Content: Design training materials that are accessible to all employees, including those with disabilities. Use subtitles, closed captions, and audio descriptions, and ensure compatibility with screen readers. This ensures everyone can engage fully with the content. 📌 Multimodal Learning Materials: People learn in different ways. Incorporate various formats such as videos, interactive modules, written guides, and live sessions to cater to visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. This diversity in material format can enhance comprehension and retention. 📌 Cultural Competency: Make sure your content respects and reflects the cultural diversity of your workforce. Incorporate examples and case studies from various cultural backgrounds to make the material relatable and inclusive. 📌 Flexible Learning Pathways: Offer flexible learning options that can be accessed at different times and paces. This flexibility supports employees who may have varying schedules or commitments outside of work. 📌 Inclusive Feedback Mechanisms: Create channels for feedback that are accessible to all employees. Ensure that feedback is actively sought and acted upon to continuously improve the inclusivity of your L&D programs. 📌 Train Trainers on Inclusive Practices: Equip your trainers with the skills and knowledge to deliver content inclusively. This involves understanding unconscious bias, cultural competency, and techniques to engage a diverse audience. Creating an inclusive learning environment isn’t just about compliance—it’s about unlocking the full potential of every employee. By prioritizing inclusivity, you promote equality, enhance performance, and support a more dynamic and innovative workforce. How are you making your L&D programs inclusive? Share your strategies below! ⬇️ #LearningAndDevelopment #Inclusion #Diversity #WorkplaceLearning #EmployeeEngagement #CorporateTraining