The Classroom Management Guy Podcast

👉 Get more classroom management strategies atwww.theclassroommanagementguy.com📩 Questions or need [email protected] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC9iiryh1sa5QylGuPrjGUzQ Lawrence Email: [email protected] Instagram: instagram.com/lawrencec.empowersMany students who struggle in class aren't trying to make your day harder.They're trying to survive battles you can't see.In this episode, I sit down with youth empowerment speaker Lawrence C. Harris to discuss how bullying, trauma, mental health, and low self-worth shape student behavior—and what teachers can do to make a lasting difference.🎯 In this video you'll learn:🧠 Why struggling students often act out💬 How bullying impacts confidence for years📓 Why journaling can become a student's safe place❤️ What teachers can do—even with 120 students🎯 How helping students discover purpose changes behavior💪 Why confidence grows from keeping promises to yourself🌱 Small ways teachers can become life-changing mentorsIf you struggle with:✔ Students who constantly misbehave✔ Students dealing with trauma✔ Building relationships with difficult students✔ Knowing how to support students emotionally✔ Understanding behavior beyond discipline⭐ Key takeawayBehavior is often the symptom. Understanding the story behind the behavior is where real change begins.

👉 Get more classroom management strategies at [www.theclassroommanagementguy.com](http://www.theclassroommanagementguy.com)📩 If you have any questions or need any assistance please feel free to reach out to me. I help teachers like you all the time. My email is [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])🎙️ Today's Guest: LeoLeo is a secondary history teacher in Southern California who teaches both middle school and high school students. In this conversation, he shares lessons from his first years in the classroom, building relationships with students, creating engaging history lessons, and the classroom debate that transformed the way he teaches.🎯 Great teaching isn't about giving students answers—it's about teaching them how to think.In this conversation, Leo shares one of the most powerful lessons from his teaching career: helping students wrestle with difficult questions and form their own conclusions. Through debates, discussions, and critical thinking activities, he discovered that learning happens when students begin questioning what they thought they knew.🎯 In this video, you'll learn:🧠 Why productive confusion can be a good thing💡 How debates increase student engagement🔥 A first-day activity that builds trust📈 Why relationships come before content🧠 How to get students talking💡 The power of student ownership⚠️ Why lectures aren't always enough🔥 The debate that changed Leo's teaching📈 How to teach critical thinking🎯 What students really need from teachersIf you struggle with:✔ Student engagement✔ Class discussions falling flat✔ Building relationships✔ Getting students to think critically✔ Creating meaningful lessonsThis conversation will give you practical ideas you can use immediately in your classroom.⭐ Key takeaway:**The goal isn't to tell students what to think. The goal is to teach them how to think.**⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Scrapping the slideshow on day one00:23 – Meet Leo04:05 – Advice for teachers in their first years07:07 – Moving into the classroom09:12 – The first-day activity that built trust13:09 – Building relationships intentionally16:16 – Why relationships come before content20:13 – Giving students a fresh start21:01 – A lesson that didn't go as planned23:39 – The Canvas experiment27:30 – Favorite classroom activities29:01 – The Instagram Enlightenment project30:15 – Why Leo decided to try debates32:02 – The atomic bomb debate36:16 – Keeping every student involved39:04 – The UNO card seating system41:00 – Changing student perspectives42:18 – The debate that changed everything45:44 – Leo's future in education47:44 – Final advice for teachers

👉 Get more classroom management strategies at [www.theclassroommanagementguy.com](http://www.theclassroommanagementguy.com)📩 If you have any questions or need any assistance please feel free to reach out to me. I help teachers like you all the time. My email is [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])🎙️ Today's Guest: DrakeDrake is a 7th-grade math teacher in Tennessee entering his ninth year in education. During this conversation, he shares lessons learned from nearly a decade in the classroom, including classroom management, student relationships, teacher growth, and why flexibility is one of the most important skills a teacher can develop.🎯 Every teacher's plan will fail at some point. The question is: what do you do next?In this conversation, Drake shares practical advice for new teachers, lessons learned from teaching through unexpected challenges, and why flexibility may be one of the most important classroom management skills you'll ever develop. **Teaching isn't about everything going according to plan—it's about responding when it doesn't.**🎯 In this video, you'll learn:🧠 Why every teacher needs a plan💡 Why flexibility matters just as much🔥 How experienced teachers adapt when things go wrong📈 The confidence that comes with experience⚠️ Common mistakes new teachers make🧠 Why classroom management comes first💡 How to build student confidence🔥 The power of strong teacher-student relationships📈 Why mistakes help students learn🎯 Advice Drake wishes he heard soonerIf you struggle with:✔ Lessons not going as planned✔ Classroom disruptions✔ Teacher stress✔ Student engagement✔ Feeling overwhelmedThis conversation will help you develop the mindset and flexibility needed to thrive in the classroom.⭐ Key takeaway:**Have a plan—but don't expect it to go according to plan.**⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – The advice Drake wishes he heard sooner01:14 – Meet Drake and his teaching journey03:13 – Finding confidence as a teacher04:24 – Teaching through COVID09:17 – Reflecting on the school year09:46 – Kagan strategies and student engagement11:19 – Building math confidence14:02 – Why mistakes matter16:46 – Advice for new teachers17:28 – Have a plan but be flexible20:13 – Preparing for the unexpected22:17 – Student growth and achievement23:39 – Using data to motivate students25:50 – Lessons from a previous career27:25 – Discovering your teaching strengths29:56 – Building relationships with students34:43 – Why a simple hello matters36:52 – Unexpected moments in teaching42:18 – What's next for Drake?44:14 – Final advice for teachers

👉 Get more classroom management strategies at www.theclassroommanagementguy.com📩 If you have any questions or need any assistance please feel free to reach out to me. I help teachers like you all the time. My email is [email protected]🎙️ Today's Guest: Norris JonesNorris Jones works in campus security and is also the founder of Drawn Out Life Coaching. In this conversation, he shares how relationship-building has transformed the way he works with students, the lessons he learned from surviving two heart attacks, and why helping others has become his life's mission.🎯 The students who need the most support are often the ones who need the strongest relationships.In this conversation, Norris shares powerful stories about working with struggling students, building trust in difficult situations, and how personal hardship helped him discover a deeper purpose. His message is simple: people change when they know someone genuinely cares.🎯 In this video, you'll learn:🧠 The secret to building student relationships💡 Why connection comes before correction🔥 How Norris reaches challenging students📈 The power of planting seeds🧠 Why some students gravitate toward mentors💡 What campus security can teach educators🔥 How a struggling student started a Bible club📈 Lessons learned from overcoming PTSD🧠 How adversity can reveal purpose🎯 Why every student deserves someone who believes in themIf you struggle with:✔ Building relationships with difficult students✔ Student behavior issues✔ Student motivation✔ Connecting with disengaged learners✔ Finding purpose in educationThis conversation will remind you of the life-changing impact educators can have on students.⭐ Key takeaway:People don't change because they're forced to. They change because someone invested in them.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – A student who turned his life around00:22 – Meet Norris Jones00:52 – What campus security really does01:42 – Why relationships matter most04:01 – The secret to building trust quickly05:07 – Planting seeds in students06:23 – A student success story07:20 – From ditching class to starting a club08:43 – Norris's journey into campus security09:42 – High school vs middle school students12:21 – The start of Drawn Out Life Coaching13:00 – Surviving two heart attacks14:08 – Life coaching vs therapy16:25 – A live coaching session17:54 – Finding purpose through service24:20 – The story behind Drawn Out Life Coaching25:29 – PTSD and recovery28:20 – Turning pain into purpose29:36 – The future of life coaching33:18 – The toughest part of the job34:22 – A heartbreaking student story35:57 – Why Norris doesn't believe in bad kids36:45 – The emotional last day of school37:17 – Final thoughts and where to find Norris

👉 Get more classroom management strategies at www.theclassroommanagementguy.com📩 If you have any questions or need any assistance please feel free to reach out to me. I help teachers like you all the time. My email is [email protected]🎙️ Today's Guest: CoreyCorey spent 18 years working in a state psychiatric facility before making the difficult decision to leave his career and become a teacher. In this candid conversation, he shares what motivated the change, the challenges of his first three years in the classroom, and the lessons he's learned along the way.🎯 What would make someone walk away from an 18-year career to become a teacher?In this inspiring conversation, Corey shares why he left a stable career, started over at age 40, and what he learned during his first three years in education. We discuss classroom management, career transitions, teacher growth, and why purpose often matters more than comfort.Sometimes the biggest risks lead to the most meaningful work.🎯 In this video, you'll learn:🧠 Why Corey left an 18-year career to become a teacher💡 The reality of starting over at age 40🔥 What the first year of teaching is really like📈 How classroom management improved each year⚠️ Common mistakes new teachers make🧠 Why routines and procedures matter more than content💡 How previous life experience helped Corey succeed🔥 The importance of finding your own teaching style📈 Why veteran mentors can accelerate growth🎯 Advice every first-year teacher should hearIf you struggle with:✔ Classroom management✔ Teacher overwhelm✔ Career uncertainty✔ Student behavior✔ Finding confidence as a new teacherThis conversation offers practical advice and honest insights about teaching, growth, and staying committed when things get difficult.⭐ Key takeaway:Master classroom management first—because even the best lessons won't matter if students aren't ready to learn.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Why classroom management matters most00:24 – Meet Corey02:18 – Teaching four different subjects03:34 – Transitioning into agriculture education05:09 – Why Corey became a teacher07:54 – The challenges of year one09:15 – How life experience helped in teaching10:07 – Teaching as a father12:01 – Teaching in a small rural school14:00 – The reality of the first three years15:58 – Confidence during career change18:05 – Advice for new teachers21:07 – What Corey would do differently23:00 – Transitioning into agriculture education26:27 – The power of hands-on learning28:03 – How FFA builds student confidence29:03 – Why Corey loves teaching agriculture30:30 – Corey's history book project36:22 – Final advice and reflections

👉 Get more classroom management strategies at www.theclassroommanagementguy.com📩 If you have any questions or need any assistance please feel free to reach out to me. I help teachers like you all the time. My email is [email protected]🎙️ Today's Guest: CJ Reynolds📚 Website:https://teachyourclassoff.com/📺 YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@CJReynolds🎯 Get the Life Odyssey Activity:https://teach-your-class-off-27476.myflodesk.com/classroom-management-guy-podcastCJ Reynolds is a teacher, author, speaker, mentor, and creator of Real Rap With Reynolds. In this conversation, CJ shares powerful insights on empathy, student relationships, and why understanding students' stories may be one of the most important things we do as educators.🎯 What if the student who frustrates you the most is carrying a burden you'll never see?In this powerful conversation, CJ Reynolds explains why every student has a story, and how learning those stories can transform the way we teach, manage behavior, and connect with young people. Through personal experiences and practical strategies, CJ shows how empathy can become one of the most powerful tools in a teacher's toolbox.Every student is fighting a battle you know nothing about.🎯 In this video, you'll learn:🧠 Why empathy improves classroom management💡 How relationships help students feel safe and supported🔥 The Life Odyssey Activity and how it helps teachers know students faster📈 Why small connections often create the biggest impact⚠️ The hidden struggles behind student behavior🧠 How to scaffold teacher growth just like student learning💡 Why greeting students matters more than you think🔥 How to build trust without lowering expectations📈 Practical ways to connect with difficult students🎯 Why understanding students' stories changes everythingIf you struggle with:✔ Student behavior✔ Building relationships with students✔ Student engagement✔ Classroom management challenges✔ Understanding difficult studentsThis conversation provides practical strategies and powerful reminders that help teachers build stronger relationships while maintaining high expectations and classroom structure.⭐ Key takeaway:Students don't need perfect teachers—they need teachers who are willing to see them, understand them, and believe in them.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Every student has a secret battle05:21 – Why teachers struggle to change08:13 – The power of greeting students11:11 – Scaffolding teachers like students12:44 – CJ's relationship-building superpower15:38 – Finding students who need connection most16:29 – The Life Odyssey Activity18:03 – Connecting lessons to student interests19:17 – Every student has a story21:40 – A student who changed CJ's life24:41 – Creating safe opportunities to share26:20 – Lessons learned from teaching39:23 – The beginning of Real Rap With Reynolds43:14 – Why teacher conferences matter47:31 – Resources every teacher needs50:29 – What's next for CJ Reynolds54:03 – Final advice for educators

👉 Get more classroom management and teaching resources at www.theclassroommanagementguy.com📩 If you have any questions or need any assistance please feel free to reach out to me. I help teachers like you all the time. My email is [email protected]🎙️ In this episode of The Classroom Management Guy Podcast, I sit down with Marco—a school custodian, college student, and recent high school graduate—to get a perspective that teachers rarely hear.What actually makes a teacher memorable?Can students really tell the difference between a good teacher and a bad teacher?And how did COVID impact students who were trying to navigate high school during one of the most unusual periods in education history?Marco shares his experiences as a student, discusses what helped him succeed, reflects on teachers he remembers, and even offers insight into what teachers can do to make life easier for the custodial staff who support our schools every day.Topics Discussed🎓 A recent student's perspective on teachers🦠 The impact of COVID on learning📚 Why some classes connect better than others🤔 What students really notice about teachers🏫 Life after high school👨‍🍳 Balancing work, college, and career goals🧹 What custodians wish teachers knew🚪 How classroom organization affects custodial staff💡 Advice for educators from someone who recently sat in the student desk⭐ Key Takeaway:Sometimes the biggest factor in student success isn't whether a teacher is "good" or "bad"—it's how students connect with the class, the subject, and the learning experience.

👉 Get more classroom management and teaching resources at www.theclassroommanagementguy.com📩 If you have any questions or need any assistance please feel free to reach out to me. I help teachers like you all the time. My email is [email protected]🎙️ In this episode of The Classroom Management Guy Podcast, I sit down with veteran educator Mr. Cooper—a teacher, former administrator, instructional leader, and union representative with over 25 years of experience in education.Together, we discuss one of the biggest challenges facing schools today:How do we balance standards, accountability, discipline, and the needs of students?We explore school culture, classroom management, discipline policies, administration, teacher burnout, unions, and what great educators never forget about the students they serve.One statement from this conversation perfectly captures the heart of the discussion:"You don't teach standards. You teach students."Whether you're a teacher, administrator, instructional coach, or aspiring educator, this episode offers practical insights from someone who has seen education from nearly every angle.Topics Discussed🎯 Students vs standards🏫 The realities of school leadership⚖️ Discipline policies and school safety📚 Why teaching is about people, not programs🔥 Teacher and administrator burnout🤝 Building strong student relationships🎓 Advice for new teachers🏛️ State mandates and classroom realities👥 The role of teacher unions🚀 How to improve struggling schools💡 What great teachers do differently⭐ Key takeaway:The best educators never forget that students come before systems.

👉 Get more classroom management strategies and resources at www.theclassroommanagementguy.com👉 Have questions? Reach out anytime at [email protected] management is one of the biggest challenges new teachers face — and it’s also one of the main reasons many teachers leave the profession within the first few years.In this interview , veteran teacher Gabriel Vigil (The Classroom Management Guy / Professor Zest) shares the biggest classroom management mistake new teachers make and what actually works when it comes to managing student behavior.After more than 23 years in the classroom, Gabriel explains practical strategies teachers can use to create structure, handle off-task behavior, and build stronger relationships with students.

👉 Get more classroom management strategies and resources at www.theclassroommanagementguy.com👉 Have questions? Reach out anytime at [email protected] latest Podcast feature a discussion on effective classroom management strategies. The speaker shares that discipline was initially a weakness, but through experience, a teacher can develop their own teaching tips. This video offers valuable insights into managing student behavior effectively, providing guidance on how to discipline while fostering a positive learning environment.