How to Discipline Students in the Classroom

Many teachers go to school to learn teaching. What they don't expect is all the discipline and management that is required. See the steps below for maintaining classroom discipline and effective classroom management.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Tell all the students in your classroom about your behavior expectations in the beginning on the first day. You must tell them what to do and what not to do. Remind students of the rules on occasion before problems arise. Let them know what inappropriate behavior is and the penalty for misbehaving. Effective classroom management requires reducing problems before they arise.

2. Stress respect in the classroom. Students must have respect for themselves, respect for their classmates, respect for the classroom and entire school, respect for their personal belongings, and respect for the teacher and school administrators.

3. Set a classroom schedule and stick to it. Students will know what is coming next and not keep asking or expecting something until it is time. This classroom management will reduce the amount of discipline problems in the classroom.

4. Be firm, but always remain calm and unemotional. Students often try to get under your skin and rattle you. Do not let them have control over you. You must manage the students and your own emotions.

5. Reward good behavior in the classroom. This may include praising the student or rewards such as stickers or extra free time.

6. Do not discuss bad behavior with any student but the offending student, their parents, and administrators. Discipline away from the rest of the students in the classroom if possible.

Tips & Warnings

• For more information on Classroom Discipline, see the link below.

Resources

• Classroom Discipline 101