Smart Classroom Management

How To Handle A Student Who Talks Back

Michael Linsin — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 23:10:29 +0000

So you give a student a direction or enforce a consequence and they respond with back-talk. “I didn’t do anything!” “Whatever you say, duh.” “That’s so stupid!” Not much gets under a teacher’s skin more. It’s clear disrespect that also challenges your authority in ... Read more

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An Easy Way To Be More Consistent

Michael Linsin — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 22:41:08 +0000

There is a way to be more consistent that doesn’t require you to be more disciplined. It doesn’t take extra brain power. It isn’t stressful or hard to do. In fact, it’s easy and comes naturally if you do just one thing. So what ... Read more

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17 Signs You’re Losing Control Of Your Class

Michael Linsin — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 23:18:45 +0000

Most teachers respond to losing control too late. They wait until they can’t even get their class quiet and seated before making changes. But trying to gain control of an already out-of-control class is exceptionally difficult. It takes expert knowledge, skill, and a wholesale ... Read more

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How To Stop The Third-Week Misbehavior Slide

Michael Linsin — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 22:46:58 +0000

Two things happen the third week of school that conspire to increase misbehavior. Some teachers never recover from it. The first is that the honeymoon ends. Students become more comfortable. Initial enthusiasm wanes. Self-motivation dissipates. They fall back into their old ways. The second ... Read more

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How To Get Students To Care About Consequences

Michael Linsin — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 01:56:32 +0000

“What happens if students don’t care about consequences?” I get this question a lot. The short answer: Then your students will continue to misbehave. In other words, you have to make them care in order for your consequences to work. There is no way ... Read more

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The Secrets To Lessons Students Love

Michael Linsin — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 23:13:19 +0000

Here at SCM, we’re asked a lot about how to teach compelling lessons that capture and keep student attention. Some believe it isn’t possible. —That social media has polluted hearts and minds so thoroughly that nothing can penetrate. It’s understandable to think this way, ... Read more

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21 Questions To Ask Yourself Before The First Day Of School

Michael Linsin — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:54:26 +0000

In 2018, I wrote a similar article that included 14 questions. It resonated with a lot of teachers because it helped prepare them for the best year of teaching they’d ever had. Other than a few tweaks, I’ve left most of the original questions ... Read more

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Why Being Tested The First Day Of School Is Good News

Michael Linsin — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 23:50:26 +0000

So a student tests you on the first day of school. They laugh while you’re teaching your classroom management plan. They pull out their phone right in front of you. They ignore you and goof off with their old friends. For many teachers, being ... Read more

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19 Things That Make You A Pushover

Michael Linsin — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:12:58 +0000

One question on every student’s mind the first day of school is whether or not their teacher is a pushover. It’s natural. They want to know what they can get away with, where the line is. And the answer comes easily. They just need ... Read more

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Great Classroom Management With Your Eyes Closed

Michael Linsin — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 23:47:17 +0000

Visualization is a powerful tool that can improve your classroom management. And now is the perfect time. Summer break allows you to reflect on the previous school year with fresh eyes and an unclouded look to the future. Journaling and diagraming can help. But ... Read more

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