How to Implement a Discipline Program in Your Class

Teachers are faced with a number of behavioral issues that occur in their classrooms every day. Oftentimes, teachers are not fully prepared for these challenges and these disruptions affect the learning environment of all students. Implementing an effective discipline program in your class will eliminate interruptions and place the focus back on student learning. Here are some steps to follow to implement an effective discipline program in your classroom.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Develop a Code of Conduct. Describe the behavior you want to see from your students in four to five sentences. Keep your statements positive and as detailed as possible. Example: Students will work to the best of their ability and allow others to do so likewise.
2. Teach the behaviors you want your students to demonstrate. If you want them to be respectful of one another, teach them how to do it in a formal lesson. Describe what it looks like and what it sounds like. Do this for every behaviour you want your students to demonstrate.
3. Practise the skills often. Some students will need to practise the skills often before they are successful. Allow them the opportunity to practise your expectations as needed.
4. Be consistent. Impress upon your students that these behaviors are to be demonstrated at all times in the classroom.
5. Correct your students when they are not demonstrating the behavior. Refrain from punishing them for not meeting your expectations. Instead, correct them and have them repeat it the proper way. Example: A student enters the room in a disrespectful way during a transition. Remind the student of the expectation and have them leave the room and enter again while following the expectation correctly.
6. Provide active supervision. Students will meet your expectations if they know you are guiding them and leading them along the way.
7. Recognize their efforts. When you see a student meeting the expectation, praise them verbally by describing how they are meeting your expectation. Example: "Mary is on task. Her eyes are on her paper and she is quiet."

Tips & Warnings

• Think prevention. Diffuse a situation before it occurs by being active in your classroom.
• Be warm-strict and assertive. State your expectations clearly with authority, not intimidation.
• Set reasonable but high expectations of your students. With guidance, they will meet them.
• Avoid yelling or losing control. Students are less receptive to teachers who are not in control of themselves or their classrooms.
• Avoid having the students provide input in developing the Code of Conduct. You are in charge and you are responsible for deciding the expectations of your classroom.