One of the biggest problems nowadays with our students
is the discipline enforcement, it seems that students are not obeying some
teachers and sometimes we don´t know how to manage some situations, to make it
worse, if we implement a punishment, parents are complaining or the school´s
authority can question our actions. So today I´m going to tell you some tips
that have worked for me as a teacher in order to maintain the discipline in the
classroom.
Prepare for Disruptions
A typical school day is loaded with disruptions, from
announcements to a student acting out in class. Teachers need to be flexible
and develop a series of plans to deal with anticipated classroom disruptions,
which take students in-class time.
Prepare for transitions and potential disruptions.
Consider the following suggestions:
Identify the typical times for student disruptions and
misbehavior, usually at the start of the lesson or class period, when topics
change or at the conclusion of a lesson or class period.
Defuse conflicts in the classroom with a series of
steps: by re-tasking, by engaging in dialogue, by temporarily relocating a
student to a designated "cooling
off" area or, if a situation warrants, by speaking to a student as privately
as possible. Teachers should use a non-threatening tone in private talks with
misbehaving students.
Be Fair and Consistent
Teachers must treat all students respectfully and
equitably. When students perceive unfair treatment in the classroom, discipline
problems are going to appear.
There is a case to be made for differentiated
discipline, however. Students come to school with specific needs, socially and
academically, and educators should not be so set in their thinking that they
approach discipline with a one-size-fits-all policy.
Zero-tolerance policies rarely work. Instead, data
demonstrates that by focusing on teaching behavior rather than simply punishing
misbehavior, educators can maintain order and preserve a student's opportunity
to learn.
Set and Keep High Expectations
Teachers should set high expectations for student behavior
and for academics. Expect students to behave, and they likely will.
In contrast, lowering expectations will make that the
quality of the class and the learning process starts to fall. On the other hand,
as teachers, we need to really be careful on the expectations we are setting
because if we set higher expectations than the ones they can afford,
frustration will eventually appear and students will start not only having
behavior issues, but also they can be afraid of the teacher and the
teaching-learning process will be again affected.
Make Rules Understandable
Classroom rules must align with the school rules and establish
clear consequences for rule-breakers.
In making the classroom rules, consider the following
suggestions:
ü Involve students in all aspects of creating the
classroom rules.
ü Keep things simple. Five simply stated rules should be
enough; too many rules make students feel overwhelmed.
ü Establish those rules that cover behaviors that
specifically interfere with the learning and engagement of your students.
ü Refer to rules regularly and positively.
Be friendly but not a friend
One aspect that some teachers will have difficulties
is the issue of being a nice teacher but not crossing the line between teacher
and students. If we establish a line of respect and we are friendly, our
students will feel in a nice environment and they will respect us as teachers,
making an excellent teaching-learning process. If we start to insult, making
jokes offending students, then they will backfire and this teaching-learning
process will decay. So again, be careful in how you relate with your students.
On the next article we are going to talk about this
last tip, whether teachers should be loved or feared, so stay tuned folks!
What other tips would you like to add into this list?
You can write it in the comments section and complement this list for better
tips for you and your colleagues. Thanks!
References
Bennett, Colette M. (2018, October 16). 7 Ways to Take
Control of Your Classroom to Reduce Student Misbehavior. Retrieved from
https://www.thoughtco.com/classroom-management-reduce-student-discipline-7803
As I work with teenagers, sometimes I talk to them and place them on the other side of the story, but without implying they are teachers and I am the student because then they can make a joke about it: it’s a different environment with different people, but the same problem and ask them what they would do in a similar situation, asking them to think about it for a minute and then they come up with a solution to it, resulting on the correction of their own behavior and even apologizing for it. Thanks for sharing!
ResponderBorrarPersonally, I find it hard to understand why Mexicans find it difficult to follow the rules.
ResponderBorrarAnd I speak of Mexicans because other cultures are really disciplined and they manage to do many things for the benefit and not only personal but also collective.
Unfortunately from home we find it difficult to promote this important value, which is more difficult to work in the classroom.
I'm pretty sure that if we really work on this we can get more things that we already have today.
At preschool it is important to use short and clear rules because they can’t get many information and it’s hard for them to focus. Therefore, sometimes I create stories with the puppets and tell them about bad and good behavior, I act some situations with the puppet and they think about it so I can catch their attention and the children understand.
ResponderBorrarThanks for sharing =)