Strategies for Implementing Good Discipline in the Classroom

A disciplined classroom makes things easier for the teacher, and it creates a better learning environment.

Learning to maintain an orderly classroom is one of the hardest things for a teacher to master, and some teachers never master. Sometimes teachers find themselves in a power struggle with students, when it's actually better to gain control in more subtle ways. If you create the right kind of classroom environment and develop the right kind of relationship with students, a lot of the discipline will take care of itself.

Make It Personal

When students see their teachers as impersonal authoritative figures, they find it easier to misbehave. If they see the teacher as a person with feelings, and if they identify with the teacher on a personal level, they're usually much more respectful. This doesn't mean that you should be "friends" with students, but you shouldn't hesitate to let students know how their behaviors make you feel on a personal level.

It's also important to give praise in a personal way by letting students know that you appreciate their good behavior and work. In the end the goal is for the student to see you as a person deserving of respect instead of an adversary.

Set an Example

The teacher helps set an example for all the students in a classroom. If the teacher is calm and respectful, the behavior of the students will usually trend that way. If you're serious minded and focused on teaching, the students are more likely to focus on learning.

Be Everywhere

Sitting back at your desk and reading a magazine while students do exercises creates a vacuum in the classroom. Students will be much more attentive to their work if you wander around the room. Check their work periodically and make sure everybody is on task.

Invisible Discipline

When students misbehave, don't make a big issue out of it in a public way. Call them aside and speak to them quietly, or approach them as if you're helping them with their work and let them know that they should get back on task. The most skilled disciplinarians are almost invisible most of the time. Ideally the only person who realizes a student is being disciplined is the child who's misbehaving. Sometimes this isn't possible, but if you strive for it, you'll have more success.

Rules Are Rules

You should always be as calm as possible when interacting with students, but that doesn't mean you should be flexible on your rules. If students break the rules, the response should always be the same for every student and every circumstance. If you don't keep a set of clear rules that are absolute, you run the risk of allowing chaos into your classroom.

Encourage Good Behavior

It can be better to offer positive encouragement to students instead of constantly focusing on negatives. Tell the students the kind of behavior you expect instead of focusing on the things that you don't want. When you correct students, phrase everything in a way that puts them back onto a positive track instead of getting into an argument about whatever misbehavior they were engaged in.

References

• Discipline By Design: 11 Techniques for Better Classroom Discipline