Be Respectable (Total Teacher Transformation Day 12)

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. As discussed last time, part of gaining respect from students comes from being respectful. The second element of earning the respect of your students (and their parents), comes from being respectable. No amount of courtesy to your students can … Read more

Be Respectful (Total Teacher Transformation Day 11)

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. As we’re going through the transformation, one of the key things to remember is that you must remain respectful to your students. As I’ve written before, classroom control is essential. Some of us have a naturally abrasive personality, and … Read more

Be Fair (Total Teacher Transformation Day 10)

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. One of the biggest difficulties that many teachers face is grasping the reality that treating students equally is often not even remotely fair. In fact, fairness in most circumstances necessitates inequality. One hallmark of a great teacher is that … Read more

Week 1 Summary (Total Teacher Transformation Day 7)

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. What a wild week this has been! I’m surprised by how much even going over these classroom management basics on here has impacted my teaching. When I preach this stuff, I sort of have to force myself to follow … Read more

Find A Mentor – Again (Total Teacher Transformation Day 6)

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. I hope that this series so far has been useful for some of you. I’m not getting an overwhelming amount of feedback specifically on the series, but I guess I really can’t complain about over 40 (non-spam) comments in … Read more

Find A Mother (Total Teacher Transformation Day 4)

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. Face it, misbehavior has been around only slightly longer than behavior has been. As teachers, we are often expected to fill every possible role in the lives of the students. Unfortunately, that can’t always happen. Sometimes our control and … Read more

Find A Mentor (Total Teacher Transformation Day 3)

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. Let’s play a game I want you to think about your classes right now. Think about the four biggest trouble-makers on your roll sheet. Now imagine, what it would be like if they all got sent to … Read more

Find A Mirror (Total Teacher Transformation Day 2)

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. Today’s lesson is simple, and yet profound. One of the most difficult concepts for me to grasp was one of the most important in my early days of teaching. It is also the most transformational and pivotal … Read more

Find A Moment (Total Teacher Transformation Day 1)

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. Congratulations First of all, I want to congratulate you on taking the first step of this journey toward becoming a great teacher! I can’t even begin to describe for you the exciting possibilities that await you as you move … Read more

Total Teacher Transformation Begins

This is an article in the Total Teacher Transformation series. Click here for a complete table of contents. As I suspected when I started this blog, there are a lot of teachers who don’t really have a strong grasp on how to be a great teacher. The number of emails and comments that I have … Read more