January 2026 Jam Session: The Warm Demander Approach to Classroom Management

Here’s how to join the chat: Drop your questions, share a challenge you’re facing, or post a strategy about balancing high expectations with deep care—the heart of the warm demander approach.

Welcome! 👋

Our featured educators for this month’s Jam Session are Alissa Alteri Shea, Amir Taron Ayres, Jessica Cabeen, and Marcus Luther. Together, they’ll break down what being a warm demander means to them—and how they create structured, caring classrooms where students are known, supported, and held to high standards.

If you’re new to the idea, you might start by skimming the article 4 Characteristics of Outstanding ‘Warm Demander’ Teachers. It outlines four warm demander characteristics—the right kind of demanding (not strictness), consistency, empathy, and celebrating wins—and then bring one takeaway (or one question!) into the discussion thread.

Drop into the thread below anytime now through Saturday, January 17, 2026, and come back as often as you like. Alissa, Amir, Jessica, and Marcus—and the Edutopia team—will be responding in the comments all week!

Let’s jam! 🎶