How to Create Responsible Behavior in the School & Classroom
Motivating responsible behavior is the best way to maintain discipline in school and in the classroom. Although laying down rules is a necessity, teachers should provide students with an environment that encourages them to take responsibility for their actions. A teacher who praises good behavior and leads children to consider the consequences of misbehavior will motivate students to behave sensibly. Since students tend to emulate teachers, teachers must monitor their own behavior and be good role models.
Instructions
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Establish rules for acceptable and unacceptable behavior. For young children, write out simple sentences for five rules that everyone has to follow. Use wording that specifies what children should do rather than what they should not do. This can include "Speak softly," "Stay at your desk until the teacher says you can move" and "Wait for your turn to speak."
With middle and high school classes, involve students in formulating these rules. At the beginning of the year, divide the students into groups and provide questions for discussion: How should we treat each other in class? How should disruptive classroom behavior be handled? Encourage students to use terms that specify behavior. Saying, "We should be nice to each other" is vague; saying, "We should not comment negatively when someone offers a suggestion" is being specific.
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Create awareness of wrong behavior by asking open-ended questions. When you find a student is not conforming to the rules, ask, "What are you doing?" and not, "Haven't I told you it's wrong to do that?" Resist the temptation to lecture and listen to the explanation the child gives. When a student has to explain what he is doing, it gives him an opportunity for reflection and he becomes aware of his actions and their impact. Using this approach will teach the child to assume responsibility for his behavior.
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Conform to the rules. If the class has a rule about treating each other with respect, but you use sarcasm when students cannot come up with answers to questions in class, you violate the rule. If you don't practice what you preach, students won't value your instructions. This will pave the way for irresponsible behavior.
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Use positive reinforcement. Acknowledge contributions, compliance with instructions and other positive traits in students, such as hard work, initiative, dependability and enthusiasm, by naming these qualities. Saying, "I knew I could depend on you to complete the assignment, Michael," gives the child a reputation to live up to -- which is something that a simple "well done" cannot achieve.
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Ask questions to students who misbehave. This creates awareness of the consequences of breaking rules. Don't overreact and launch into a monologue of what his bad behavior means. Instead, calmly ask, "What do the rules say about such behavior?" or "What happens when you behave in this manner?" Wait for the child to think and answer. Follow up by asking, "Is this good for you?" or "Is this the way you want things to turn out?" Using such questions teach a child that misbehavior can have unpleasant consequences that he can avoid by changing his behavior.
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Tips & Warnings
Encourage students to take up responsibilities, such as helping out with students in lower grades in the computer lab, the library or in the school garden. This encourages children to behave responsibly and in a manner that fetches them positive recognition.
Be a role model to your students. Students who watch you apologize when you commit an error will be more likely to take responsibility for their behavior.
References
- Photo Credit students image by Ivanna Buldakova from Fotolia.com
