As a consultant and academic coach, Dr. Scott has heard it all. In this episode, she reflects on a teacher complaint that he “Can’t do 20 things at once.” Many classrooms have taken on the appearance of a living room where students let themselves in and make themselves at home. In such an environment, students decide the agenda, seating arrangements, meals and level of socialization.

Dr. Scott distinguishes between a “home” environment and a classroom environment conducive to learning. A lackadaisical classroom environment opens the door to bullying, distractions, learning gaps, sub-par instruction, roaming, revolving-door entry and exit (bathroom, snacks, daily visits to the clinic, water fountain, etc.).

Sadly, conscientious, well-behaved students often pay the price for the students who are late, off task, on vacation in the back of the classroom or on a date in the corner. Dr. Scott advises there should be systems in place for every movement, stemming from a consistent routine established on Day One. Without it, we are inadvertently honing a student's ability to distract the leader in the room. Bottom line: “If you’re not doing many of the right things at once, you are not teaching.”