Classroom Discipline

Classroom discipline is part of all 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 management tools and techniques, the need for discipline is greatly diminished, and you can put an end to disruptive behavior in the classroom.

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 certain expectations in the classroom.


Most schools have a school-wide 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.

Assertive Discipline: An End to Disruptive Classroom Behaviors

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job."
Donald D. Quinn

Assertive discipline is a philosophy that says teachers are to be firm and in charge. There is no room for "waffling" in assertive discipline.

This does not mean a teacher is harsh, uncaring, or inflexible.

On the contrary, most teachers who use this in their classrooms are very warm and loving with their students, as well as taking the time to really listen to them and work with them.

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 management skills.


Teachers who are assertive can react quickly in to disruptive behavior in the classroom.

They are proactive with their classroom discipline strategies and techniques. Assertive teachers start the first day of school with training their students in desired behaviors, and consistently follow through on rewards and consequences.

Solving Classroom Discipline Problems will teach you more about how to be effective with discipline.

Classroom Discipline Strategies

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:

These three "I Will" Statements cover a wide range of expected behaviors, including turning in homework (#2). Please view the link below for what I use in my classroom.

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.

Behavior Management Tips and Tricks

At these times, a behavior intervention plan may be necessary.

Here are some whole class strategies you may find helpful:

1. 3 X's on the Board
Put 3 large X's on the board. Tell the children that as they get too loud (even if they are on task), you will simply erase an X. When all three X's are gone, the classwork becomes homework and you move on to the next lesson. Works like a charm!

2. Divide the Room
Students who wish to talk while they work go to one side. Students who want to not talk go to the other, or may stay at their seats. Set a specific amount of time to complete the task, and if students who were on the talking side do not have it finished, it becomes homework with a parent note explaining that the child chose to talk during work time. Of course, if you have a student who needs this peer interaction to be successful, you will modify it.

I did this recently, and I was amazed that my "worst offenders" chose to go to the non-talking side of the room. They monitored their own behaviors and chose to work instead of play. Amazing and simple classroom discipline and management.

3. Spell the Word
Choose a specific holiday-themed word to spell, such as "candy" for Halloween. Students earn a letter each time another staff member compliments you on their behavior in specials, the lunchroom, hallways - wherever it may be! Their reward should be a class-decided one, such as a read-in, extra recess or maybe a board game afternoon. My class cannot wait to tell me when they have gotten a compliment, and always beg the other teachers to let me know!

4. Fun Friday
For the students who never have to flip a card and do everything they should, this is their reward. Each Friday, make an extra 15-20 minutes at the end of the day to do something fun as a reward. This can be an extra recess, a small craft, a game, a quick science activity - anything you know your students will love. I do believe in giving all children a chance (and lots of them!) but those kids who really are well-behaved all the time do deserve something special.

5. Give Responsibility
Some children do not respond to management techniques and classroom discipline, for a variety of reasons. You can possibly turn this around by offering an "important" job to the child. Often a child's behaviors will clue you in as to what responsibility you should give him or her.

Set up an opportunity for the child to read to a younger student, be a helper around the school grounds, or check the classrooms after announcements to see if any teachers need papers taken to the office. Many times these students are simply looking for attention and self-worth, and will get it through negative behaviors unless you help them turn it around.

“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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Click here to see how differentiation can help you achieve classroom control.

Excellent courses are also offered through many universities. Many of these provide practical, realistic classroom management strategies.

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