The best part about teaching is that we get to start over. It doesn’t matter how challenging last year was, we all get to start the school year fresh. We get to look at the things that didn’t go as smoothly as we would have liked and have the chance to try again. 

Here’s a framework of questions I ask myself when thinking about student behaviors that I’m not crazy about. It helps me think about the problem objectively and brainstorms ways to address it right at the beginning of the year, before they even have the chance to annoy me! Let’s try it together, shall we? 

What annoys you in the classroom?  Is it their dang cell phones? Is it micromanaging bathroom passes? Constant interruptions? Blurting? The list might be long, but for this exercise, pick one to consider. I’m serious. Pick an annoying thing students do that you wish they wouldn’t. Got one? 

Why do they do it? Think about it from a teenage or preteen perspective. What’s happening in their brains that spurs this annoying habit? Are they craving attention? Desire for connection? Fighting for acceptance? Responding in embarrassment? They say that all behavior is  communication…what are they telling you with that annoying thing in your classroom? You don’t have to figure out the answer, just brainstorm some possible answers. 

Why does it annoy you so much? There’s the annoying problem (My Little Darlings leave my classroom in shambles when they charge out with the bell) but there’s likely underlying issues at play. Maybe it’s I really care about my classroom and I  work really hard to make it look nice and inviting. It feels super disrespectful when they trash my classroom.  Pinpointing this will help you figure out the best course of action.

What system or procedure could address the problem before it starts? What could you have ready to go on the very first day of school to set the tone: in this classroom we do X this way. Here’s what we do with our phones every day. Here’s how we straighten up the room the last 2 minutes of class. Here’s how we’re going to minimize interruptions or whatever the annoyance is.  It’s Back to School and you’ve got a fresh start:  don’t waste it! Now is the time to think about it and make a plan!

This summer at Fluency Matter’s Conference in Denver then again during Conference in the Cloud I presented sessions about starting the school year right, sharing the little things that go a long way in creating a healthy and happy classroom environment. The feedback was so good, that I wanted to make it available to a wider audience…so let’s do a zoom sesh! For Free!!

And if that date or time isn’t good for you, on August 6th I’ll have the zoom recording ready for purchase: $5 to watch any time you’d like, as many times as you’d like 🙂 

Here are the most annoying things I’ve tackled in my classroom over the past 18 years and I’m excited to share with you what’s working over at The Chase Place:

• Cell phones and earbuds
• The revolving door to the bathroom
• When they’re being so naughty that I need to shift to Plan B  so I don’t loose my cool
• Blurting
• Their energy is through the roof and I need to reign them in
• Reducing interruptions
• Managing and simplifying make up work and late work
• Clean up and reset procedures at the end of each class

If you’re looking for some super practical solutions to common classroom annoyances, I hope you’ll join us! Will every one of my solutions be a homerun in your classroom? Probably not, since you teach different Little Darlings in a different school with a whole host of different factors but I am hopeful that they’ll inspire you to think proactively about your own classroom as you start the school year. 

Here’s to making 2024-2025 our best yet! 🎉🎉🎉