| If you've read any of my posts on classroom | | | | If you habitually threaten your students with |
| management, you know that I was not a gifted | | | | some sort of consequence and you don't deliver |
| natural when it came to managing student | | | | on your promise, what are you teaching your |
| behaviors. I struggled right along with the worst | | | | students about you as a teacher? What are you |
| of them! But, I was lucky enough to have | | | | saying about your word, your promises, as a |
| received some well-timed classroom management | | | | teacher? You're teaching the students that as long |
| training right near the beginning of my teaching | | | | as they misbehave, you will only threaten them |
| career, which has made all the difference ever | | | | with consequences rather than enforcing |
| since. | | | | consequences. |
| I want to take a moment to highlight some of | | | | Is that what you're trying to communicate to the |
| the classic classroom management failures that | | | | students? It seems like common sense, but in the |
| plague many teachers. Heck, I've been guilty of | | | | thick of a stressful class management moment, if |
| some of these as well. And it's usually the source | | | | you don't have a solid classroom management |
| of frustration for me, those moments when I | | | | plan, many teachers fall back on the "old standby" |
| failed as an effective classroom manager. I end | | | | - empty threats. |
| up going home thinking over that situation over | | | | This just highlights the need for all teachers to |
| and over and over, regretting a split decision or a | | | | have a simple and effective class management |
| comment made that can't be taken back. | | | | plan. When you have a plan in place, it's easy to |
| The classic class management failure I first want | | | | avoid getting into the "Empty Threat Syndrome." |
| to speak of is the "Empty Threat Syndrome." If | | | | With a solid class management system, you no |
| you set up a consequence for your student | | | | longer need to threaten. At most, you would |
| dependent on their behavior, you better follow | | | | need to remind students of expectations and |
| through with your threat. If you tell that student | | | | consequences. But once you've taught these class |
| that you're going to call that student's parents if | | | | behavior expectations and consequences, you no |
| their behavior doesn't improve, you better call | | | | longer need to threaten. |
| that mom or dad or whomever the next time | | | | All you do then is consistently implement your |
| that student doesn't meet your class behavior | | | | behavior management system. You do have an |
| expectations. | | | | effective classroom management system, right? |