The Classroom Management Guy Podcast

About The Classroom Management Guy Podcast

Middle school teacher with 24 years of classroom experience sharing practical strategies for classroom management, student engagement, teacher burnout, school culture, difficult students, and surviving the realities of teaching. This podcast gives honest advice, real classroom stories, and simple systems that help teachers stay calm, organized, and effective—especially new teachers navigating today’s classrooms. Perfect for educators looking for practical teaching tips that actually work.

Publisher

Gabriel Vigil

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 May 2026

Latest episode

31 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

26 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Oct 2026

   The Classroom Management Mistake That Nearly Made Him Quit Teaching | Dan Lewer

   🎯 DAN LEWER SOCIALS https://linktr.ee/history4humans (https://linktr.ee/history4humans) If you need additional resources or support, visit my website at: 👉 www.theclassroommanagementguy.com (http://www.theclassroommanagementguy.com/) 📧 For questions, collaborations, or classroom management support, contact me at: gabrielvigil@theclassroommanagementguy.com (mailto:gabrielvigil@theclassroommanagementguy.com) 🎯 WHAT IF THE BIGGEST CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MISTAKE YOU'RE MAKING IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T EVEN REALIZE YOU'RE DOING? Imagine starting your teaching career in a classroom where students are literally betting on how quickly they can make you quit. That's exactly what happened to Dan Lewer, an award-winning history teacher and creator of History for Humans. In this episode of The Classroom Management Guy, Dan shares how he went from struggling with classroom management and nearly quitting teaching to becoming Hawaii's 2020 History Teacher of the Year. Drawing from 17 years in education and visits to more than 60 schools across 27 states, Dan reveals the practical strategies that helped him transform his classroom, build stronger relationships with students, and create engaging lessons without sacrificing structure or expectations. 📚 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER: ✅ The classroom management mistake Dan made during his first years of teaching and why it nearly drove him out of the profession. ✅ Why classroom rules are meaningless unless teachers consistently follow through with consequences. ✅ How simple, logical consequences can improve student behavior without creating unnecessary conflict. ✅ Why great teachers build strong relationships while still maintaining high expectations and accountability. ✅ What Dan learned from visiting more than 60 schools across 27 states and observing successful teachers in action. ✅ Why there isn't one perfect teaching style or universal set of best practices that works for every classroom. ✅ How teachers can balance engaging, fun lessons with meaningful learning and academic growth. ✅ Why the first few weeks of school are so important for establishing classroom routines, procedures, and expectations. ✅ How greeting students at the door can strengthen relationships and set a positive tone for learning. ✅ Why teachers should embrace their unique personalities instead of trying to imitate what other successful educators do. 😩 DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? ❌ You establish classroom rules, but students continue testing your limits. ❌ You hesitate to enforce consequences because you're worried about damaging relationships with students. ❌ You spend more time correcting behavior than actually teaching your lessons. ❌ You create exciting activities, but your classroom sometimes becomes chaotic and difficult to manage. ❌ You compare yourself to successful teachers online and wonder why classroom management seems so much easier for everyone else. ⭐ KEY TAKEAWAY Great classroom management isn't about being the strictest teacher, the funniest teacher, or even the most creative teacher. It's about building relationships, establishing clear expectations, and consistently following through. Dan's experience reminds us that classroom management is a skill that develops through practice, reflection, and a willingness to learn from our mistakes. Sometimes the biggest transformation happens when teachers stop trying to find the perfect strategy and start consistently applying the fundamentals. And perhaps most importantly, you don't have to become someone else to be a great teacher. You simply have to become the best version of yourself. #ClassroomManagement #TeachingStrategies #NewTeachers #StudentEngagement #ClassroomCulture #HistoryForHumans #DanLewer

2. 

   24 Oct 2026

   Why Students Won't Learn (And What Teachers Keep Missing) | Troy Kemp

   🎯 TROY F. KEMP SR. SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/tfkempsr?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAac3IrUOdPk7empz3jiwj2KvIqPKC4_5Qk3szYcc1QH1gbxtK0ggQTPjTGiuIA_aem_ujBNEmD9WcasFT4nIuHafw (https://linktr.ee/tfkempsr?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA85MzY2MTk3NDMzOTI0NTkAAac3IrUOdPk7empz3jiwj2KvIqPKC4_5Qk3szYcc1QH1gbxtK0ggQTPjTGiuIA_aem_ujBNEmD9WcasFT4nIuHafw) If you need additional resources or support, visit my website at: 👉 www.theclassroommanagementguy.com (http://www.theclassroommanagementguy.com/) 📧 For questions, collaborations, or classroom management support, contact me at: gabrielvigil@theclassroommanagementguy.com (mailto:gabrielvigil@theclassroommanagementguy.com) 🎯 WHAT IF THE REASON STUDENTS REFUSE TO LEARN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MOTIVATION? Teachers spend countless hours creating engaging lessons, managing student behavior, and trying to motivate students who seem unwilling to participate. But according to Troy Kemp, award-winning educator, Hall of Fame coach, former Ron Clark Academy leader, and CEO of Chattanooga Preparatory School, the real obstacle may be something we're overlooking: trust, emotional safety, and the barriers that prevent students from taking risks. In this powerful conversation, Troy shares practical insights into classroom management, student engagement, building relationships, developing resilience, and creating a positive school culture that helps students succeed. 📚 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER: ✅ Why students sometimes refuse to learn even when teachers provide engaging lessons. ✅ Why psychological safety is essential for student participation and engagement. ✅ The difference between reacting to student behavior and responding to student needs. ✅ Why today's students may struggle with what Troy calls a "failure deficit." ✅ How allowing students to fail in a safe environment develops resilience and confidence. ✅ Why removing barriers to learning can be more effective than simply increasing motivation. ✅ The five C's of trust: Clarity, Credibility, Consistency, Connection, and Care. ✅ Practical strategies for building stronger relationships with difficult or disengaged students. ✅ How lessons from the Ron Clark Academy can help teachers create a stronger classroom culture. ✅ Why effective school leadership requires trust, consistency, and shared expectations. 😩 DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR? ❌ You spend hours preparing lessons, but students still refuse to participate. ❌ You constantly redirect the same students without seeing lasting improvement. ❌ You struggle to build relationships with students who seem withdrawn, defensive, or disruptive. ❌ You feel like you're spending more time managing behavior than actually teaching. ❌ You've tried different classroom management strategies, but nothing seems to work consistently. ⭐ KEY TAKEAWAY Great classroom management isn't just about controlling student behavior. It's about creating an environment where students feel safe enough to learn, make mistakes, and grow. Sometimes students don't need more motivation, more consequences, or more engaging activities. They need teachers who understand what's preventing them from moving forward. As Troy explains, when we build trust, establish clear expectations, and create psychological safety, we begin removing the barriers that keep students from reaching their potential. #ClassroomManagement #StudentEngagement #ClassroomCulture #TeacherStudentRelationships #TroyKemp

3. 

   17 Oct 2026

   Why New Teachers Struggle (And What They Should Focus On First)

   📩 Tyler Talabi Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/talabi_teach/If you need additional resources or support, visit my website 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 gabrielvigil@theclassroommanagementguy.com**Why do so many new teachers struggle, even when they're working incredibly hard?**The problem isn't always effort. Sometimes it's trying to master everything at once before you've built the classroom management systems that make everything else possible.I sat down with middle school teacher **Tyler Talabi** to talk about what it really takes to survive those difficult early years of teaching. Tyler began his teaching career during COVID, struggled with classroom management, and eventually discovered how focusing on one major area at a time helped him become a more confident and effective teacher.We talk about classroom routines, student behavior, consistency, relationships, teacher burnout, and a practical roadmap for becoming a better teacher without trying to fix everything overnight.🎯 **In this video you'll learn:**🧭 Why new teachers often feel overwhelmed and stuck in survival mode🏫 Why classroom management should come before perfect lesson plans🔁 How consistent routines and procedures help students feel safe🤝 How student-created respect agreements can improve classroom culture👀 When to reteach expectations to the entire class versus helping individual students💬 Why students don't have to like you to respect you🌟 How focusing on positive student behavior changes your perspective📈 How to build your teaching skills one step at a time🛑 Why setting boundaries is essential for avoiding teacher burnout**If you struggle with:**✔ Feeling overwhelmed by everything teachers are expected to do✔ Students who repeatedly ignore classroom expectations✔ Knowing where to begin with classroom management✔ Building relationships without trying to be everyone's friend✔ Staying consistent when teaching gets difficult✔ Finding a healthy balance between teaching and your personal lifeThis conversation is especially helpful for new teachers, but even experienced teachers can benefit from remembering that great classrooms aren't built overnight. They're built through consistent systems, thoughtful routines, and small improvements over time.⭐ **Key takeaway:**You don't have to master everything at once. Start with classroom management, build a foundation that works, and keep improving one step at a time.

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