how can a teacher discipline in an out of control classroom?

Answer 1

Discipline requieres respect, consistency, and enforcement. First, set some rules, usually with the help of the kids. These rules should center around mutual respect, a key to discipline in a classroom. Post them where everyone can see.
Second, make a list of consequences, both positive and negative, and post those too.
3rd, be consistent in administering the rules. This is absolutely critical. A heirarchy of steps works great (1st warning, 2nd warning, etc). I have a list of each child's name for every day and I mark on it where they are on the heirarchy of discipline steps as I teach. That way I don't forget. Remember always to enforce positive behavior with treats and encouragement as well.
Hope this is enough to get you going. Good luck!

Answer 2

On the first day of the new school year, a teacher has to set the boundaries that students are expected to follow. Then a very important thing a teacher must do is follow up those expectations. If a teacher lets certain disruptive behaviors slide, then the students will learn that those expectations do not apply.

During the school year one way to help control discipline problems is to implement some or all of the following:
1. Always have more assignments and work for the students to do than can be finished in one class period. If a student is busy with schoolwork, it makes it harder to disrupt class. Disrupt behaviors rise up more frequently when the students are left to do what they want to do.
2. Assign detention.
3. Call the student's parents and request a parent/teacher/student/principal meeting. Once a parent is involved, it many times will reduce those behaviors.

Answer 3

First of all, I disagree with anyone saying that embarassment or a dunce cap is the answer to the problem. These are band-aid strategies- they may work for a few minutes, but later on, the problem will only get worse. The best thing you can do is set clear and concise expectations from the get go. This can be hard when you walk into a classroom midyear, but you can do it. Make it clear that you are the leader of the pack, and let your students know what you expect. Stay away from "no" rules- for instance "Don't be late" or "No gum". Re-word them as an expectation, like "Always arrive on time."
The best thing you can do is understand that every single tiny misbehavior comes from a need that hasn't been met. It's more than likely that whatever is missing happened earlier in the day. Some misbehave for attention, some do it because they really don't know better. Also keep in mind that kids come to school with little to no emotional and social aptitude for a variety of reasons, and from a variety of environments. Try to control the things you CAN control- you can control yourself, and how you react to things, you can control the physical arrangement of your classroom (to some extent), and you can control when you set expectations. You can't control whether the kids got bullied on the school bus, whether they had a healthy breakfast, whether their parents are addicts or absent alot. Remember that kids have to deal with alot of things that were unthinkable for many of us when we were young. The bad news is that kids are very impressionable, the good news is that they are also resilient. Don't take it personally, or it will become personal.
I have also found this website to be extremely helpful in understanding different types of kids, it gives solutions, not just a description of the problem.
http://www.disciplinehelp.com/
Good luck!

Answer 4

It really depends on what level you are teaching. It's much easier to maintain control at the primary level, as kids of that age are somewhat more respectful of those in charge. I must assume you are referring to middle, junior high or high school students. That is where discipline measures are most difficult to enforce.
First, the teacher must exhibit control from the first day of school. You cannot and must not become "buddies" with your students initially. Rules must be set up and students should be required to sign off on the rules. Make the rules simple and no more than a total of five or six. Go over the rules daily during the first few days and weekly or as required thereafter. If a student breaks any rule, consequences must be applied immediately. If you have a supportive administrative staff, follow up as to what remedies were taken if you deem it necessary to make an office referral. Next, call the parents or guardian and explain the misbehavior as thoroughly as possible, but with respect. In our current educational climate, you must realize that parents often will support the child rather than the teacher. But try to remain calm and collected as you communicate the problem. Ask for suggestions from the parent or guardian and explain that you both have the best interests of the child at heart.
In my state, Texas, a teacher has the right to petition the administrators to have an incorrigible child placed in another learning environment. That may be an option if it becomes apparent that the case cannot be resolved by other means.
Remember that it takes only one or two students to destroy the learning environment. If this is adequately presented to the administrative staff, common ground can often be found. Your job is to reach as many as possible. If the disruptive element cannot be resolved, you are accomplishing very little. Communicate this fact to your superiors as forcefully as possible. And remember, contrary to the theory that "no child is left behind", we sometimes have to do that in order to move the willing child forward.
All the best in your teaching career.
Larry W

Answer 5

First you must establish control and have a management system in place. On the first day of school I always explain the rules (give examples and non examples) and then go over the rewards and consequences. Students must understand that for all behaviors there is a consequence. Whatever your system,you must start off strong and let students know you are in control and that's that. You can't start off being nice and friendly and then try and get tough when they walk all over you...and they will try. And to the person who put that you should embarasse the biggest trouble maker: not a wise choice if you value your teaching job. Sad, but true. What worked when we were in school is outlawed now! Go figure. Sounds like you're coming into an already out of control class. I'd try to set up a rule system WITH them. Involve them. Have them own the rules. And most importantly: encourage the behaviors you want and ignore or discourage the ones you don't.

Answer 6

Well, at this time of the school year I'd say, hang it up! However, this summer read:
The First Dayof School by Harry Wong
Teaching with Love and Logic
Fred Jones' book.

These authors all have web sites and wonderful suggestions. The main thing (Harry Wong) is to distinguish between procedures (how we sharpen pencils, how we pass paper, how we enter the room) and rules (no cursing). Teach procedures, practice procedures, stop class the instant someone stands up to get a pencil without asking (if that is your procedure), give them an incredulous look and 9 time out of 10 they'll sit back down. Especially if you teach middle school, they want to know daily if your rules/procedures/what you will put up with (the true rules of class) have changed. There is no such thing as a little consistency--it's like a little bit pregnant.
Fred Jones suggests PAT time (preferred activity time) which they earn by following procedures during the day or week depending on the age of the child. You need to read the whole book first, but it's a wonder, particularly when you make the project, game or filme you were going to do ANYWAY something they have to earn by arriving on time, prepared, doing their bellwork, transistioning in less than 5 seconds...
I've been teaching for 30 years, predominately int he middle school and loving it for about 20 (it took me almost 10 years to get some actual help in classroom management!)

Answer 7

First teach with confidence and pride. If you act like you don't know what you are doing the kids will spot it right away. So write a concise lesson plan.

Don't start teaching until you have absolute silence. Some teachers will go into a rowdy class and start teaching while some students are still chatting. This will result in the teacher having to talk louder to be heard over the noise. The longer you do this the more the noise escalates.
It doesn't matter if you have to wait ten to twenty minutes don't teach until you can hear a pin drop.

Always keep your cool. No matter how bad things get. losing your temper is losing control.

Good teaching is 90% body lauguage. Always keep your eyes scanning the class and walk around a lot.

Smile frequently. This will keep a positive attitude in your class.

If you have problems teaching get a coworker to observe you. They will spot everything you don't.

Administration will only do so much. If you rely on them too much they will replace you.

Find some fun activities that the students like. You can sandwich them in with more academic activities.

Answer 8

If a teacher has no support from the administration or parents, there may be little she can do. If the classroom has already gotten out of control, often the main offender needs to be removed and dealt with sternly as an example to other children. But, again, that requires the support of administration and parents to be able to back the teacher's discipline choices or to administer discipline from a higher authority.

Answer 9

what are we talking about? how out of control? is it a question of law enforcement? is it just talking? how in depth are we going here? There are many levels as to how things are to be done....

is there a ringleader? or is it a group? That person would be made an example of...I would make him/them do a huge paper that would represent the class. Each person that is involved in the scuffle must be represented in the paper or it won't get above 59%. Each person must submit his portion/chapter of the paper and the paper must be cohesive, lucid and clear. The score on the paper will be given to the whole class. In my opinion, a team must work as such and if the team is weak there is a reason and if they can work as a team again AND most important, LEARN from their errors, then they probably won't react in the same way again. Those with the best grades must delegate and cannot have direct input on the paper as they were NOT the ones responsible for the out of control behavior. I cannot however allow everyone to go unscathed. the class is a whole and must participate as a whole. They are responsible as young the young adults they "CLAIM" to be...we always hear how we don't give them their due credit...so..here you go...take the ball and run..as a group..as a class and as a team. You need to prove to me that you actually learned from your behavior and are actually capable to show that such behavior is justified by getting the best grade that you can. If you score extremely well, you will never see that done again. You obviously proved to me that you just needed a stress release. I CAN understand and even respect that, but you need to explaint to me in the paper better ways to go about it than to disrupt my class. By making even those with good GPAs involved...then the likelihood that this will happen again is very low. The good students will delegate and direct the paper even though they can only moderately get involved. They will not be held responsible for typing a portion of the paper as they will be more involved with the organization and the editing of the paper itself.

The idea behind this is to teach and discipline and this accomplishes both.

Answer 10

If you are struggling, I feel your pain. I was a sub for a year and I am getting a master's degree right now in elementary ed.

I think the very best way to discipline an out of control classroom is to take away what the students want most...freedom. Set your standards for your classroom and just begin a token economy making each time you have to tell them to behave, a loss of some freedom or really desire able activity. For instance, every Friday you set aside time for movies or games or free time. They will hate getting these things taken away. Kids that are really out of control leave your class. And stick to your guns on this! Once they see kids leaving the room and being embarrassed in front of friends/classmates, they should straighten up...and the best part of this is the real trouble makers are out of your hair!!