The Magic Number 3

The three bears, the three little pigs, the three fairy godmothers, virtually every cuisine has a combination of 3 ingredients that are signature to that cuisine, like carrots, onions, and celery in French cooking. I'll bet you can think a many more. There's a reason for 3, whether it's about fairy tales, cooking, or even the Holy Trinity. In the simplest terms it's memorable, balanced, it works (past, present, and future—there's another one!). I'm sure you know where this is going, I have my magic "3" for classroom management.

My "3" are "Calm, Content, and Consequence". I am not suggesting that these work for everyone (remember, I don't tell teachers what to do). What I am suggesting is that most likely, there is a memorable, well-balanced, workable trilogy for most teachers (you just have to think about it, bring it to the surface) that can serve as a dependable anchor to resolve classroom management problems.

So, to assist those who might be seeking their personal "3", I'll explain where mine came from and why they have never let me down and still help me when coaching teachers in tough classroom circumstances. "Calm" is everything, it is the state of mind that yields rational thought and action. "Content" is what we are about, it's our knowledge base and the fuel of our lesson delivery. "Consequence", while it sounds ominous, it is what keeps us honest. It is not about the "consequences" we dish out when students misbehave, it is about the consequence of our own actions, whether in dealing with student behavior or the intent of our teaching.

I hope this makes sense and is helpful. My "3" came from the core of who I am. Your "3" need to be from the core of who you are—that's how you know they'll work.

Stef