With spring and warmer weather still to come, students continue to have their own excuses for not giving their 100% effort. And of course, there are more non-school related activities that can distract them. Maybe you already, for example, teach fewer students because of some of these “distractions.”

So how can you maintain your composure and continue to thrive in the classroom? This guide will show you how to:

1. don’t fight the system. When it comes to canceled lessons and other unpredictable and school-related matters, there’s really nothing you and I can do about it. Keep calm and carry on as best you can. As the old saying goes, “choose your battles wisely”. Fighting the system will only make your job harder, but there are many things you can do that aren’t just about surviving in the classroom.

two. Don’t compare yourself to other teachers. So what if other teachers seem to have better control of their classes? It may take you a whole year to develop an effective classroom management plan for your class, but then again, so what? You are unique.

3. Continue teaching core subject skills until the last possible day of school.

The trick is to continue to teach important educational and subject skills (not just those related to exams) in a fun and engaging way. (see #9, #10)

Four. Set your intentions for success, especially during the last few months of the school year, when time and curriculum constraints and high-stakes tests can wear you down.. As Suzanne Lieurance says, “Make every thought, statement, and action reflect it throughout the day. Teachers know that they usually get what they expect from their students. What someone says about you can help you create a totally different and new expectation.” To Yourself: So ask a friend to write a positive statement about yourself. Then see how you strive to LIVE by that statement every day.”

5. balance your life. Don’t commit to fun, meaningful activities that make you feel good about yourself. Start each day in a strong and confident way. Don’t succumb to the pressures, but rather accept them for what they are, realizing that they too will pass.

Hang out with supportive and positive people. In times of difficulty, you’ll need a support network of teachers and other professionals with whom you can communicate, air, and share your successes. Professional isolation, especially toward the end of the school year, is an enemy. Plus, you’ll probably get some clever ideas for your own teaching.

7. Start your day in a positive and affirmative way. Remember the law of attraction: the positive attracts the positive. Don’t say, “I wish my classes were easier to teach this time of year” or “I wish I didn’t have to go through this…” because you are still focusing on those negative elements and affirming to yourself that they are there. Instead, focus on the positives of your teaching: the ability to inspire and motivate students and teachers. Write these affirmations in a place where you can see them each morning at the beginning of the day. They might even empower you.

8. If you can’t beat them, join them! Participating in school and field trips is a great way to experience school culture in a refreshing way. Students will also appreciate it and perhaps see it in a different light.

9. Adapt classroom management skills and instruction to fit new classroom situations. This requires a lot of flexibility and intuition from the teacher to know what skills he needs to use at any given time. For example, if you find yourself teaching a small class for one lesson, provide well-paced and engaging lessons to accommodate small groups of students.

10. Have lots of SOS kits!

Some classes may need a Plan B and even a Plan C. There’s nothing wrong with over-planning.

11. Think outside the box. When planning interesting and motivating lessons, ask yourself: what resources are available to you? You may want to use the computer lab to supplement a reading lesson. If you don’t have a computer lab available at your disposal, plan games as part of authentic instruction. (Don’t overdo them either!)

12. Praise, praise and praise! Use plenty of positive reinforcement to accommodate the ages of the students you teach. A little praise will go a long way.

13. Have a plan to keep your rules from coming undone.

14. Keep a Reflective Teaching Journal. Writing about your teaching experiences helps you gain objectivity and clarity especially on those difficult and unpredictable days. Five minutes is sometimes all you need!

15. Have fun and interesting review sessions where you don’t teach new material. Have practice sessions and review of the material you have taught. There are so many ways to do this, but choose those activities that fit your teaching style. For example, you could have a game or mini-contest. Show a movie to reinforce important themes or concepts followed by a worksheet. Use songs to review grammar structures and vocabulary. Have a textbook scavenger hunt. The list is endless.

I’m missing something? Email me and let me know and I’ll include your ideas and suggestions in next week’s weekly ezine. So until then….

And remember, students will always keep trying to push the limits. That is simply its nature. So make sure you understand your own logic for what you are doing in the classroom.

You can confidently and successfully teach when the going gets tough.

So work it up!