Are you a "strict" teacher? Surely, if you’re strict it means that you are mean, cruel, or demeaning. But just the opposite is true: If you care about someone, you want the very best from them. Being strict means you care enough to hold them to the highest standards possible.
This year I added a new game to my arsenal: Gridlingo! It’s a spin on a classic word-creation game, where students build words on a 5 x 5 grid one letter at a time. Gridlingo combines the fun of wordfinds and crossword puzzles with strategic word-building games. The longer the words students can make, the more points they receive.
Minor misbehaviors can be easily corrected by classroom management. You can create the best lesson in the world, but students need to be on-task before that lesson can engage them. Expecting anything less than 100% engagement is a disservice to your students.
Someone once said that “Feedback is the Breakfast of Champions,” and I fully agree. (Don't tell Wheaties!) That’s why I end every school year with end-of-course surveys, where students can give me detailed feedback. Here are some tips for doing so.
Always remember: Creative teaching requires extra effort from you, the teacher. It is a privilege, not a right. From time to time, students must be reminded of this.
