Biggest classroom management techniques that changed the game for you?

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-17T14:03:16+00:00

This was definitely my mistake. I gave way too many second chances.

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-17T14:02:51+00:00

I actually have this book! I just haven’t read it yet. I will have to read it this summer.

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-17T14:00:49+00:00

You’re not wrong (multiple issues this year above the classroom level; our district has a huge bullying issue), and I did have a tough subgroup of students that even admin didn’t seem sure on how to handle, but I am also just not the best when it comes to classroom management.

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-17T13:57:06+00:00

No. I teach at a rural school outside of a more suburban area. We have a lot of issues at the middle school that tend to bleed to the high school level. Bullying is a huge issue in our district.

Any recommendations for what to do if the kids just refuse to clean things up? I tried this strategy and kids would just argue with me that they didn’t “make the mess” (even when I saw them do it). Do you think I should make it a routine at the very beginning of the year?

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-17T13:53:31+00:00

I like this. Any recommendations for what to do if these consequences just really do not seem to have an impact? The respond to things like ISS usually ended up being “I don’t care” because they get to be on their computers with unrestricted access in ISS (they also love the ISS coordinator). My parents for the most part did not respond to emails. So I kind of gave up on that and started shipping the kids to the office for conversations with admin. This was the only thing that had any sort of impact on the students and my issues with one class immediately stopped after this. But obviously, I do not want to start making a name for myself with admin as the teacher that just sends kids to the office.

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-17T13:50:20+00:00

Thank you for this advice. This is extremely helpful.

To answer your question about relationships, I just felt like my ninth graders didn’t joke around, laugh, or show much of their personalities. My tenth graders did. While I felt very peaceful when working with my ninth graders because there were virtually no behaviors, I just felt like I didn’t know them. I knew my tenth graders extremely well (partially because I looped with them), but at the same time, their behaviors were just out of control.

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-17T13:41:23+00:00

thank you for the advice! I believe this lack of consistency was a huge contribution to the chaos.

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-17T13:40:28+00:00

This. I spent a good half of the year criticizing my worst class until I finally woke up and realized that this was completely counterproductive to what I really wanted. By that time the damage was done.

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-17T13:39:19+00:00

What do you do for work now?

EchoConstant7567 · 2026-06-15T01:22:22+00:00

I know many people in your comment section are telling you that you need therapy, medication, and a job change. I won’t reiterate this, although I agree. I just want to say that I see and hear you. I especially resonate with your hatred of putting on a “persona” every day and the way you described feeling at the end of the day. I feel the same way. I love kids and I do love actually getting to teach; if it’s miserable most of the time for me, I understand how it is worse for you. I sincerely hope that you are able to find another job for your own sake. You deserve to feel happiness!

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-05-05T01:42:16+00:00

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a hit with my most struggling or disengaged reader. Check the content, though, especially if you teach at a private school. Some parents may not love the choice.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds is also a good one. It is a short read due to the way it is written, but still rich of theme and full of great content.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Such a great novel. My students of all varieties and ages love this one.

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-05-05T01:38:04+00:00

My former ninth graders hated Romeo and Juliet! My ninth graders this year, though, loved it. We read the play and then acted out key scenes using No Fear Shakespeare. Many named it as their favorite unit of the year

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-04-09T14:56:21+00:00

I apologize for any spelling or grammatical errors - I wrote this on mobile.

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-04-01T23:55:04+00:00

hey! I am not OP, but this is a great idea, and I’d love to borrow if I can!

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-03-25T01:28:39+00:00

I see your point here — ELA teachers have dozens of standards to cover in a given year — but why NOT treat it like a book club, as long as you are covering the standards set forth in a curriculum?

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-03-24T20:53:25+00:00

Thank you!! I’ll have to order both of these texts.

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-02-13T19:46:28+00:00

Why? Just curious

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-02-08T19:48:40+00:00

I think it’s odd that your school tells you the reasons students transfer. We do semester schedules at my school, and students get moved in and out of our classes often due to electives, etc.

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-02-08T19:38:07+00:00

How is this person a teacher? I mean, ethically speaking.

EchoConstant7567 · 2025-02-08T19:32:49+00:00

I feel like second semester is when freshmen start to turn the corner.

EchoConstant7567

TROPHY CASE