I’ve observed through the years that most teachers do the same types of things when misbehavior occurs: we all use “the look,” we use our proximity to quell further misbehavior, we set up consequences (a.k.a. punishments) for students who cross a certain line, and the most egregious misbehaviors result in us sending a student to the office for further discipline.
In terms of classroom management, then, the difference between an average teacher and a great teacher isn’t how bad behavior is deal with after the fact. Instead, it is all about how much misbehavior the teacher can find a way to prevent ahead of time.
How much time do you spend preventing misbehavior as opposed to correcting it?
Posted by mpullen 
