What's the most clever and effective disciplinary measure you've seen a teacher use on someone in class?

Question

I personally threaten my students with an in-class call to their grandmothers--and put them on the phone. Next?

Answer 1

That sort of technology wasn't available when I was in school (Thankfully) but my teachers were definitely believers in PTH (Punishment Through Humiliation) and some were sheer masters at it. Nobody dared mouth off in Mr Hazard's English class for fear of being made a laughing stock.

Answer 2

I teach at an inner city, low-income high school where the students pretty much do not care what you do. And get this, even though these kids are low-income, they are still spoiled compared to the rest of the world. How do I know? Many can choose not to eat the FREE breakfast or lunch. They don't perceive those as a privilege or luxury. How many students in other countries will choose to give up free food?

These spoiled kids are not motivated by fear because they know you can't do anything physical to them. Rewards become impractical because most students work and they think their pay is better than anything you can teach them or reward them. They also have no concept of future rewards or future time (I've yet to figure out how to teach them that).

So what would you do?

All I can come up with is ask them how they can answer for their behavior to 3 people in their lives: 1) themselves (usually they don't care), 2) their parents (usually their parents don't care, or are not there), and 3) their future kids. Number 3 will usually get them thinking to where they can understand you at least.

But the hardest teaching decision you can make is to decide on what are your "acceptable casualties". No teacher will publicly admit it, but we all subconsciously do it so we can help the ones that really want to learn.

For those that do want to learn and go to college, I try to inspire them with the scholarship info and the college party life with all the cute guys and girls. I ask the question "why do you think 'Girls Gone Wild' go to college campuses to party"?

Since there are no more corporal punishment in the US, kids today don't really understand fear as a motivation. Everything becomes a choice for them. I still remember the day I was spanked by my teacher, and came home crying about it. My Parents just told me that "I deserved more than I got", and I thank my Parents to this day for that because I didn't act up again and excelled academically with discipline.

But the real question today becomes, "how do you motivate a spoiled kid without using fear?"

Answer 3

I teach 1st grade. When a student hurts another, they have to say they are sorry, hug the other student, and give them a kiss to make it better. That works great with boys.

The other thing I do (it's always been with boys) is when they have broken a rule so many times that I am sick of reminding them, they can choose their punishment: 5 kisses from your teacher or 5 nuggies (sharp taps on the top of the head). I've never had a boy chose kisses. If he keeps up with the undesired behavior, I up it to 10, etc.

When I'm really having a bad day, I start taking away their next sports or library class. Sports class with me is: 100 jumping jacks, 10 push ups, 20 sit ups, run for 5 mins, and repeat for the whole 45 minutes. Library class with me is reading an unknown book aloud for 45 minutes. Since my students are Mexicans and English is their second language, this is torture (it would be for me too in Spanish).

Can't say any of these gets through to the worst students, but I can say my students respect me and know my discipline style is no joke, but is for their benefit. The mothers love me.

Answer 4

When I was in fifth grade, some of the people in my class weren't listening to our teacher so he said that we would teach ourselves the lesson for the day and be our own teacher -- that meant no bathroom breaks and sitting at your desk taking notes from the material -- with the threat of there being a test on it.

After what seemed like forever, the teacher let the kids that were listening when he was trying to teach go to the bathroom, but not the others.

Then he went over the material. That I didn't really understand, and there wasn't ever a test.

But he did say that the next time people didn't want to listen, he would let them teach theirselves, and he would teach the ones that wanted to listen.

Anyhow, the class always listened after that.

But that was more than one person and punishing the entire class, so it might not really be fair.

Answer 5

My husband and I teach junior high; you know, the grade levels where no one will admit to anything or "tattle" on their friends.
We hold court. First, all of the kids in the class anonymously write what they saw (not what they think they saw or heard) It takes three witnesses to hold court for the accused. The teacher becomes the judge and the accused is given the choice of confession with a lighter sentence or they can present their case and the judge and a jury (kids in class) decide their fate if found guilty.
I'm also a social studies teacher so it allows me to teach some of the judicial system to the students.

Answer 6

When two students were talking in class, I swapped their books and watched them complete each other's work. The funny thing is, they were doing completely different tasks and didn't notice.

I've also made students write what they did wrong, sign and date it, and then posted it to their parents. But I only do stuff like that if it's serious.

Answer 7

I knew of a high school teacher who would yell out "SEX!" when the students got loud and out of hand. It always got their attention.

I was amazed to see how well reverse psychology worked on a 1st grader once.

I like making them write a letter home to their parents. They know it's serious if it's in writing.

If I need a quick fix, the student just doesn't get to participate in the lesson. You'd be surprised at how depressed a kid who doesn't like to read gets when he doesn't GET to read.

Answer 8

I think being very strict may work but it doesn't improve the teacher's interaction with the students. Maybe the teacher could talk more informally with them and find out more abt thier interest and help them to reach their goals/hobbies, etc. Then they will automatically respect you.

Answer 9

Implement a strict behavior plan from day one of school. I'm a fan of token economies. Students respond well to a structured classroom.

Answer 10

If a student uses profanity in class, I have them call home and tell his or her mother exactly what word they said. Works like a charm (at least in 4th grade).