Classroom Discipline
Classroom discipline is part of classroom management ideas. You can stop disruptive behavior in the classroom using these strategies.
A teacher must have an effective classroom discipline plan as part of effective classroom management strategies.
With excellent classroom management tools and techniques, the need for discipline is greatly diminished.
You can put an end to disruptive behavior in the classroom by first organizing your own plan of how you will manage everyday routines and behaviors.
A rule for a job is that you show up on time. If you don't, your pay is docked or you could even lose your job. That's a consequence. You work hard and are productive, you get a raise. That's a reward. The same thing applies with expectations in the classroom.
Most schools have a plan that they expect teachers to use in their classroom discipline plan.
You can adjust it to your particular teaching style, but never let classroom discipline be confused with classroom management.
Without the ability to run a classroom smoothly, your efforts at discipline (if and when it becomes necessary) will be pointless.
Assertive Discipline:
An End to Disruptive Classroom Behaviors
"A saint is one who makes goodness attractive. Surely, a great teacher does the same thing for education. "
~John Trimble
Assertive discipline is a classroom management philosophy that says teachers are to be firm and in charge.
This does not mean a good teacher is harsh, uncaring, or inflexible.
On the contrary, these are teachers that use effective classroom management ideas to prevent and end disruptive behavior in the classroom.
They can do this because they do not have to constantly "put out fires" in the room due to poorly behaved students and they are not exhausted from dealing with discipline issues all day.
Most teachers who use an assertive classroom discipline plan also have excellent classroom management skills. They are proactive with classroom management strategies and techniques.
Assertive teachers start the first day of school by training their students in desired behaviors, and consistently follow through on rewards and consequences.
Classroom Discipline Strategies
Classroom management is not discipline. However, we need a plan for what do to when a student is disruptive and breaks the learning process for other children.
This strategy is for general disruptions. It is not student-specific as far as the children who consistently cause problems and require a specific behavior intervention plan.
Rules, Consequences and Rewards
Post your rules, consequences and rewards in a clearly visible place. Make them easy to understand and simple for you to follow through on. You should have no more than 5 rules, and they should cover all areas of classroom behavior.
The best plans are ones that use child-centered language and direct students towards personal responsibility. In my room, we use "I Will" statements. Since I teach primary grades, I have only 3 rules: - I will take turns listening and speaking
- I will follow directions the first time they are given
- I will keep all objects, hands and feet to myself
These three "I Will" Statements cover a wide range of expected behaviors, including turning in homework (#2). This is what I use in my classroom. Rules, Consequences and Rewards Poster
The consequences follow a pocket chart I have displayed by my rules poster. All students start every day on green and must turn their own card if directed. This is an excellent visual reminder for students to monitor their behavior throughout the day, and I record it at the end of each day.
I have also found the use of a small index card to be very effective. At the end of each day, students who had no reminders or redirections for behavior get a stamp on their card. Once 10 stamps are accumulated, they get a visit to the Treasure Box. Simple, yet quite effective!
A record must be kept of a student's disruptive behavior in the classroom. This will be shared with parents at conferences, as well as your principal or headmaster.
As well, many schools are now implementing monitored behavior plans as part of their Response to Intervention.
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher... is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."
Maria Montessori (Italian Physician and Educator. 1870-1952)
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