How to Solve Discipline & Classroom Management

Establishing rules and expectations creates a positive learning environment.

Whether a teacher has been teaching for five years or 20, discipline and classroom management is always a challenge. Every year, even the most experienced teachers contend with students who "act out" or misbehave in class. However, what experienced teachers know is that having a smoothly run classroom requires a proactive approach to setting enforceable rules and expectations, and, at the same time, being flexible when facing unforeseen challenges. You may not be able to control every concern that arises during the school year, but an effective discipline plan and strong classroom management techniques will allow you to create a peaceful, productive and focused classroom environment.

Things You'll Need

• Rules and expectations poster
• Student handouts

Instructions

1. Create a set of enforceable rules and expectations and post them in a visible spot in the classroom. Do not make the list too extensive or complicated. Typically, around five rules should suffice and provide groundwork for your management style.

2. Change your seating arrangement to allow you to work freely and easily with your students. Do not feel tied down to traditional rows. Try circles, semi-circles or groups of four desks to create tables. Change your seating arrangement as necessary, depending on the activity.

3. Provide written copies of your rules and expectations to your students. Review the rules with them on the first day of school. You can also have them sign the paper, indicating that they have read and will honor the rules while in your classroom.

4. Be consistent in your enforcement of the rules. Students will test your boundaries. Once you make an exception for one student, you have cracked the foundation of your rules and expectations. This will ensure that other students also will try to take advantage of you.

5. Be flexible. It is almost guaranteed that unforeseen circumstances will arise during the year. Once you have gotten to know your students better, feel free to adapt the rules to their personalities if need be.

6. Vary your instructional activities. Do not lecture to them every day. At the same time, do not have them always working in groups.

7. Teach from "bell-to-bell." Students with nothing to do will inevitably cause trouble or create chaos. Keep them busy at all times, and do not allow for downtime.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't create rules that you will have trouble enforcing or that will create extra headaches and stress for you. Make sure you can manage the rules as well as your students.

• Be prepared for trial and error, and don't be afraid to change or abandon a rule if it isn't working for your particular class.

References

• Education World: Creating a Climate for Learning
• Education World: Do Seating Arrangements and Assignments = Classroom Management?

Resources

• Education World: Classroom Management 101