Smart Classroom Management

How Reacting Emotionally Can Ruin Your Authority

Michael Linsin — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:17:06 +0000

One of the biggest mistakes a teacher can make is to have an emotional reaction to misbehavior. This can play out in a number of ways. Glaring Lecturing Arguing Berating Brooding Grumbling Threatening Scowling Pacing Using sarcasm In other words, you show displeasure in ... Read more

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Why You Should Never Ask Students To Apologize

Michael Linsin — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 23:04:08 +0000

It’s common for teachers to ask students to apologize for their misbehavior. It makes sense. Students should offer amends for their actions. The very act of saying sorry—which is difficult for many people—can provide a lot of satisfaction. It can feel as if it ... Read more

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How To Catch Sneaky Students

Michael Linsin — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:09:59 +0000

You notice movement out of the corner of your eye. You hear but don’t see a disruption. You sense misbehavior happening behind your back. But you don’t know who did it. If you’re like most teachers, you spin around and glare. You ask who ... Read more

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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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