Book excerpt: Presenting the psychology behind the best-managed classrooms The authors engage you from the start by contrasting how differently teachers respond to common situations. They expertly bridge the gap between educational psychology and classroom management from the perspectives of student engagement, peer and student-teacher relationships, and teacher self regulation. Both current and prospective teachers will find helpful tools for engaging difficult students, managing challenging relationships, and handling conflict. Key topics include: Student behavioral, relational, and cognitive engagement in the learning process Classroom structures that contribute to student engagement The contribution of peer relationships to positive and negative behavior management Strategies that help children learn to manage their own behavior Connecting with students who are culturally and linguistically diverse