Why kind of discipline works best with children in the classroom?

Question

How can teachers effectively teach while discipline problems occur daily in the classroom? Although parents are called, that doesn't always end the situation. I know it begins at home, but when there are no rules at home and the parents don't really care what happens at school, then how can the teachers make a difference?

Answer 1

I have pondered this same question during ten years as an elementary and high school teacher, and this is the philosophy by which I've been most successful:

Discipline problems in the classroom occur largely because children are testing the boundaries set by the teacher. Do the rules really mean anything? What is the teacher willing to do to enforce the rules? Is the teacher really in control, or will the teacher become emotional and off-balance when tested? And most importantly, will the teacher protect my fragile ego even when I misbehave?

Calling the parents is not an effective discipline tool. Certainly the parents have a right to know if their children did something unusual, but you cannot rely on parents for your classroom discipline. If the students' parents had good discipline, you wouldn't be having these problems.

So what can you rely on? Only yourself and your relationship with your students. Realize the students are looking to you for leadership, even the ones who disrupt your leadership. There are four basic techniques you can use:

1) Arrange your room. Put the chairs in such a way that you can walk to any student's seat in seconds. Seat the worst disruptors close to you but away from each other. Make it so the natural position for any student is facing you. And teach the students the body language of respectful attention explicitly.

2) Implement procedures and routines. For any time in your room that is always chaotic or wasteful of your time, have your kids practice the way you want it done. What to do when you come in in the morning, when you want one thing put away and another gotten out, when you want your students to line up for library or P.E. or recess or lunch, what to do when "I'm done," and many more situations.

3) Respond effectively to misbehavior. It's human nature to respond ineffectively, so this can be the hardest part, but doing it right is an investment. First, you must remain calm. Getting upset sends a signal to students that you are not in control of yourself. If you are having a problem with the entire class, you should address the entire class, stating briefly what you expect. But usually you are having a problem with one student. Remember that this one student is checking whether you will be respectful to him or her (even when he or she is not respecting you). So the one ultimate and absolute key is: DO NOT allow your confrontation with this student to become a drama for the entire class to witness. You cannot win in that situation. Instead, show the student you care AND you mean business by making the interaction private to the degree possible. If you must interrupt a whole class activity, excuse yourself. Then go to where the student is. If your body language is not enough, lean close to the student and make a quiet, calm statement of what you want. "Larry. Please sit the right way at your seat, pick up your pencil, and begin work." DON'T respond to back talk. You are not there to have a conversation. And even though Larry is going to say, "But I don't know how to do it!" DON'T respond. You cannot let Larry set the agenda. You have already set the agenda. So just keep your mouth closed and your shoulders and eyes focused on Larry until he sits the right way at his seat, picks up his pencil, and begins to work. Gesture toward Larry's work if necessary, but NO talking. If Larry just doesn't get it, send him outside to wait for you, and have a private conversation with him at your convenience. You must not make discipline with Larry a spectacle for the entire class, partly because the class as audience gives Larry his source of power over you, and partly because the class as peers make Larry feel embarrassed. By eliminating the class as a factor you A) get to win and B) protect Larry's ego. How should the private conversation go? Make the following statements to Larry: In my class, I need you to _____. I want that because I care about you and your education. I know you can do it. If you are ready to do it, come back into the classroom. If you can avoid it, by the way, don't send your kids to the office. They are no better at discipline than the parents, mainly because they'd rather send the kid back to you than deal with it.

4) Create positive, engaged learning experiences. One of the best ways to keep students from misbehavior is to give them something to DO. When every student has a task that really demands his or her attention, it's a lot easier to get him or her focused on it. I know a lot of elementary teachers are being told, "teach this way," but to the degree you can adapt the curriculum to make every student a part of it, you will prevent discipline problems.

Good luck! Don't forget, you are the most important factor in your classroom. Your influence is bigger than you think. Stay Positive!

Answer 2

I agree with the guy with the really long answer!
I'll add one thing, though. I find that the relationship you build with the students is the key. They have to know you mean what you say and you say what you mean, but also that you care about them as people. In turn, they care about you and respect you and you don't get all that disrespect and "discipline problems".
You set the limits and you stick to them, while being compassionate and human.
As a special ed teacher, I've consistently received the student that the teacher before me groaned about. You know, "Ohhh, you're getting so-and-so next year! Good luck with that one..." I never had the kind of problems other teachers had with those "problem" kids due to the relationship I built with them. A little (or a lot!) of effort on the front end makes a teacher's life so much easier.
I'll add one more resource to the Fred Jones reference. Responsive Classroom is another excellent methodology for classroom management.

Answer 3

I find usually making an example of the ring leader of trouble - and they aren't really hard to find - sometimes works the best. This is not what the "studies say" but its really more effective. The worst thing you can do is empower a student who is acting out by placating them because it leads to a bad example to the other students (why does he/she always get away with things) and doesn't teach the kid they will be held accountable for their actions. Parent teacher conferences sometimes can work wonders or at least you get a feel on whether or not you have a parent who giving their child the wrong message at home.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

The teachers have a degree that suppose to be especially for this situation. The kids are in school with them 6hours or more 5 days a week. They are suppose to be able to control them while they are in their care. If the child is not learning or not paying attention then they are suppose to find a way to get their attention while they are in school. When my child is at home i explain things to her all the time what she should do what she shouldnt do. because she is not in my sight she thinks she can do what she wants and i am not going to find out about it she tell lies and think i am going to believe her i communicate what she tells me to her teacher so she knows whats going on at home and she lets me know whats going on in school i think the teachers supposing to have a BS is very well equip to come up with things for the students but most of them are just there to get paid and dont care as a parent i dont have time to run up and down the highway to the school the schools are not just around the corner anymore

Answer 5

There's a whole lot to do. But the first thing you have to do is to consider that you must teach by yourself, totally on your own, this means not to expect that parents will help you. Discipline has to be INTELLIGENT discipline, not STUPID one and the first rule is you can't keep doing the same and expect different results. Try new strategies all the time. We, teachers, must convince, not defeat. Think it over. And try havind your class make their own rules for the classroom, etc. This might help. Feel free to e-mail me. [e-mail]

Answer 6

This is a difficult topic to deal with, but here goes. Try an "award system" with the students in the class. It mainly depends on the grade that is being taught, but it does work with most students. I can vouch for this- I'm a substitute teacher. It also helps to enstill good values in the students by setting goals for them to strive for, whether it be finishing their home/ class work for the week or just trying to make a better grade in the class. It does help in the long run. Just have to offer the students the perverbial " brass ring" and go with it.

Answer 7

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