Managing a classroom really means weeding out as many problems as you can as early as possible, before those problems blossom into monstrosities so huge they can't be eradicated. If you ignore classroom-wrecking issues such as defiance and disruption, you'll soon find yourself in a position where the class manages you instead of the other way around. Kids are intelligent little people, and they'll eat you for breakfast unless you master the techniques presented in this chapter for running reasonably problem-free classrooms.