Smart Classroom Management

Why Students Ignore Your Directions

Michael Linsin — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:33:21 +0000

It’s among the most frustrating classroom management problems. You give directions and your students either ignore them or they . . . kinda-sorta follow them. grudgingly follow them. try but fail to follow them. So you reteach. You remind. You narrate. But the problem ... Read more

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Here’s Why Your Stress Is So High

Michael Linsin — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:36:08 +0000

There is one thing nearly every teacher does that skyrockets stress. You’re probably doing it too. Because it comes naturally. It makes sense. It feels right. Plus, you see every other teacher doing it. So what is it? It’s trying to convince students to ... Read more

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Why Every Student Needs A Whiteboard

Michael Linsin — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:42:09 +0000

Every student in your class needs their own personal whiteboard. They need to know where to keep it, how to care for it, and when to use it. Its strict operation and function must be taught, modeled, and practiced like any other routine. Once ... Read more

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How To Improve Student Politeness

Michael Linsin — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:29:20 +0000

The more polite students are, the fewer class rules are broken. Therefore, if we improve politeness, then we can save a lot of time and trouble holding students accountable. The problem, however, is that teaching politeness doesn’t work. Not in this day and age. ... Read more

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How To Handle Lazy Indifference

Michael Linsin — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 23:57:27 +0000

When students are uninterested and struggling to focus, the instinct is to back off. It’s to require fewer paragraphs and math problems and to stop being so nitpicky about rules and routines. It makes sense. If you’re demanding more than they can handle, then ... Read more

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5 Ways You’re Telling Students “You Can’t”

Michael Linsin — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:55:26 +0000

In ways subtle but clear, scores of teachers are communicating to their students every day that they can’t do it. They don’t measure up. They’re not good enough, smart enough, or capable enough. Most troubling, these teachers have no idea they’re doing this. In ... Read more

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How To Handle A High Energy Class

Michael Linsin — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 02:24:33 +0000

Having energetic students isn’t a bad thing. In fact, there are three big advantages: They’re primed for learning. They’re fun to teach. They’re eager to participate. However, they’re also prone to excessive talking and disruptive behavior. Therefore, even if you have solid classroom management ... Read more

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The Essential Ingredient Of A Well-Behaved Class

Michael Linsin — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:14:28 +0000

The essential ingredient of a well-behaved class is your belief that it’s possible. Because as soon as you accept the myriad reasons why it can’t be done, which bombard teachers like West Texas hail, you’ve sealed your fate. You’ll never have the classroom you ... Read more

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Why Difficult Students Don’t Need Mental Breaks

Michael Linsin — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:38:59 +0000

In the past five years, a new classroom management strategy has taken hold. The goal of this strategy is to calm and soothe the fragile psyches of the most difficult students. The way it works is that whenever they begin to feel overwhelmed, angry, ... Read more

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Slow Down And Be A Better, Calmer Teacher

Michael Linsin — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:15:02 +0000

If you’re like most teachers, you’re in a hurry for much of the school day. Your curriculum is packed. Your schedule is overloaded. You never have enough time. And you’ve been led to believe that there is nothing you can do about it. Rushing ... Read more

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