Classroom Management

You've got questions. We've got answers, and sometimes we answer twice (listen to this episode to see what I mean). In this email roundup, we help you calm your nerves as you prepare for the first day of school. We also discuss some grittier subjects, including one emailer's frustrations in his student teaching experience and another teacher's trouble dealing with a student that loves to play the victim in class.

This week, we sit down with Rich Ognibene, the 2008 New York State Teacher of the Year. Among the topics of conversation: qualities that make a good teacher stand out, managing student discipline before it becomes a problem, and cultivating a productive and welcoming classroom environment. Most of all, you'll sense Rich's passion for teaching and for his students as he explains how to move beyond simply conveying academic content in your classroom to making a difference in your students' lives.

If you're wondering what happened to the stressed-out teacher from our last episode, wonder no more. She's written to us again to let us know how the situation in her classroom is developing. It turns out that she needs help with parent phone calls. Like most rookie teachers, she's intimidated by the thought of contacting parents, especially parents who might not be up for, shall we say, any parent of the year awards.

The title of this week's episode is not only dramatic, it's an actual quote from a frazzled listener. What happens when a student is misbehaving, you've tried everything you can think of, and nothing works? Is there anything you can do (other than hope and pray that the student is absent)? Next on the agenda is the Return of the Fatal Five (just in time for Halloween). The topic: What are the five worst ways to respond to sudden and unexpected bad behavior in class?

Glen's on vacation this week, but the show must go on! Big things are happening at the New Teacher Hotline even though it's only our tenth episode. We unveil a new segment this week called the American Top Fifty, with a goal of interviewing the Teachers of the Year from all 50 states. After all, what could be better than teaching tips and advice from the best of the best? This week Mike talks to Dana Boyd, the Teacher of the Year from Texas. The honoree from deep in the heart of Texas has a big heart herself and lots of good advice about truly valuing your students.

In this episode, we talk about squelching ring leaders, kids that encourage bad behavior by modeling it day in and day out. Our listener mail comes from a college student about to start student teaching. She wants to know what it means "not to smile before December." Can she avoid the frowniest Thanksgiving ever? What does that even mean?

Ever wondered how a principal's opinion of you changes when you send kids to the office? Are you worried that, by referring students, you're announcing to the entire school "I can't control my class"? Wonder and worry no more, as we talk about the role administrators will play in your classroom management strategies. We also answer an email from a teacher who thinks she made a lousy impression on parents during Back To School Night, and worries that (because she's so young) she'll never regain parents' respect.

In our premiere episode, the hosts introduce themselves and discuss the format of the show. Each show begins with a Warm-Up, a topic that’s on our minds. This week’s Warm-Up is an overview of classroom management. The second half of the show is listener email, where we delve into the questions you send us here at the Hotline. It sounds like things are going very poorly for a teacher who started mid-year. Her kids are out of control and she’s knee deep in problems. We do our best to help out.