| The students in any classroom will become more | | | | overnight and present it to the students as they enter |
| comfortable with their environment, including the other | | | | class the next day. |
| students sitting around them, after a certain amount of | | | | Another effective classroom tactic is to keep one |
| time. When students make friends they become | | | | empty seat the front of the room, near the whiteboard |
| braver in terms of breaking the rules of the classroom. | | | | if possible. For the majority of the time, you can use |
| To put a quick end to this newfound bravery and | | | | this desk to store teaching supplies so that you're not |
| misconduct, try reconfiguring the seating arrangement | | | | running back and forth from your own desk. |
| of your class. This action will remind the students that | | | | The empty seat also works well as a deterrent to |
| you are in control of the class. | | | | misconduct. If a student is misbehaving, clear the desk |
| Rearranging your students also affords you the option | | | | of your supplies and move him or her to the empty |
| of separating students who are becoming a little too | | | | seat at the front of the classroom. |
| friendly and are playing off each others' misbehavior in | | | | If one of your students acts out in a serious manner |
| an attempt to subvert your authority. If you've noticed | | | | that requires immediate punishment, tell the student to |
| such alliances brewing in the classroom, it's important | | | | gather his or her things and move to the empty desk |
| to quickly separate these students so that further | | | | in the front. |
| misconduct doesn't occur. | | | | Normally, the embarrassment of being called out in |
| While rearranging the classroom is a good idea once in | | | | front of the class is enough to set the student straight. |
| awhile, you should never do it in the middle of a lesson. | | | | If not, any future transgressions will be easy to spot as |
| Instead, draw up the new seating arrangement | | | | the student will always be right under your nose. |