Buzz
Educators are trained to maintain classroom discipline through professional education and hands-on experience. Effective teachers utilize foundational techniques to determine the best approaches tailored to their specific classrooms. These methods may vary depending on the type of class, students, and situations. While finding the most effective disciplinary approach takes time, skilled teachers continuously innovate to connect with students, fostering a safe and comfortable learning environment.
Steps
Working with Elementary Classes
Identify the most important rules. Consider principles that promote an engaging and safe learning environment. Establish rules aligned with this goal. These guidelines will differ based on the students' age and the type of class you teach. Some example rules might include:
- Respect everyone.
- Take care of yourself.
- Protect classroom property.
- Raise your hand to speak or get someone's attention.
Select no more than 5 classroom rules. This makes it easier for students to remember. These rules will guide behavior in various situations, eliminating the need for constant reminders when issues arise.
Ensure students understand the rules clearly. Spend some time on the first day explaining the classroom rules. Discuss the meaning behind each rule and provide examples of correct and incorrect behavior.
Establish consequences for rule violations. Inform students about the penalties for breaking rules. Consequences can escalate, starting with warnings, followed by staying after class, detention, and ultimately meeting with the principal.
- For younger students, consider implementing a timeout or break system. Younger children who break rules can be given a few minutes outside to refocus before returning to class.
Display the classroom rules prominently. Create a poster listing the rules and hang it in the classroom. Use positive language when writing the rules. For example, instead of "No pushing," write "Respect others."
Have students commit to following the rules. Ask students to show their agreement with the rules. They can sign a commitment form or simply raise their hands, signifying their promise to adhere to the classroom rules.
- Another way to build trust in the rules is to involve students in creating them. Gather their input when establishing classroom guidelines.
- Periodically review the rules with students to reinforce their importance.
Utilize non-verbal communication techniques. Using hand signals, body language, and other tactics can effectively capture students' attention. For instance, turning the lights off and on can signal the end of an activity.
- Hand signals are particularly effective for elementary students. Occasionally changing these non-verbal cues keeps students engaged and prevents boredom.
Praise students for good behavior. Highlight exemplary behavior by acknowledging students when they follow the rules. By demonstrating what good behavior looks like, you encourage others to emulate it.
- Ensure you praise a variety of students. Avoid focusing on the same few individuals every time.
Engage parents early on. Communicating with parents can be beneficial if disciplinary issues arise in elementary school. Address potential problems before they escalate. Early intervention can help correct inappropriate behaviors.
Provide students with tools for positive interaction. Foster constructive interactions by equipping students with strategies to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings. Communication tools can help prevent potential disciplinary issues.
- For example, teach students to ask for permission before taking something. They should make eye contact, wait for acknowledgment, and ask politely.
- Teach students conflict resolution skills. For instance, encourage them to calmly face each other and say, "I understand how you feel," before expressing their own thoughts calmly.
Managing Middle School Classes
Define behavioral expectations using the CHAMPS model. The CHAMPS model is a framework for outlining expected student behavior in the classroom. It is highly effective across various contexts and learning objectives. Use the following points as a guide to set behavioral expectations for students during activities:
- C – Conversation: Are students allowed to talk during the activity? With whom? About what?
- H – Help: How should students seek attention when they need assistance?
- A – Activity: What is the purpose of the activity?
- M – Movement: Are students allowed to leave their seats during the activity?
- P – Participation: How should students demonstrate their engagement?
- S – Success: If students meet the CHAMPS expectations, they have succeeded and exhibited good behavior.
Maintain structure and order in the classroom. Students need clarity on what is expected of them. Middle school students, in particular, respect clear expectations and boundaries. Consistency is key. Keep a predictable routine so students know what to expect next.
Occasionally shake things up. Middle school students are easily distracted. Introducing spontaneous and unexpected activities can keep things fresh. Students will enjoy positive learning experiences that come as surprises.
Build relationships with students. Students are often curious about you and enjoy hearing your stories. While you don’t need to share everything, occasional relevant anecdotes can help you connect with them. Similarly, take an interest in your students. They are more likely to respect and behave well if they feel you care about their interests.
Maintain a positive attitude. Treat each day as an opportunity for success in the classroom. At this age, middle schoolers can be moody, so patience and positivity will make your job more enjoyable.
Speak in a normal tone. When you use a calm and normal voice, students are more likely to respond in kind with a moderate volume. If the class becomes noisy, avoid raising your voice. Instead, speak normally so the class quiets down to hear you. Alternatively, remain silent and wait for students to settle.
Rearrange seating monthly. Change student seating arrangements every month. This disrupts groups that may cause disruptions and can help address behavioral issues. Use name tags to assign seats and maintain order.
Keep the classroom organized. A tidy and well-organized classroom encourages students to be more disciplined. A cluttered or messy environment may lead students to disregard your authority.
Prepare engaging lessons. A bored class is more likely to become unruly. If your lessons are unclear, disorganized, or uninteresting, students may lose focus. Capture their attention with captivating and well-structured lessons.
Move around the classroom. Walk around while teaching and during group or individual work. This shows students that you are attentive to their activities. Provide guidance when they encounter difficulties with their tasks.
Maintaining Discipline in High School Classrooms
Show respect to students. Students of all ages deserve to be treated with respect, and they will reciprocate that respect toward you.
Get to know your students. Demonstrate your interest in students by learning more about them. Ensure you know every student’s name and ask questions to understand their backgrounds and interests.
- However, remember not to become too close to your students. Maintaining a professional distance is essential to preserving your authority in the classroom. Otherwise, students might expect special treatment or privileges, especially regarding disciplinary matters.
Engage and encourage student participation. When students are interested in the lesson, they are more likely to take responsibility for their behavior. Create engaging and inspiring lessons, and incorporate fun activities to keep students focused.
- For example, you could conduct a simple classroom poll to gauge students’ opinions on a specific topic.
Help students develop social-emotional skills. Even though high school students are teenagers, they still need to learn social-emotional skills. Assist them in resolving conflicts with peers and classmates.
- For instance, if a student behaves poorly or upsets another, guide them in finding ways to make amends, which is often an effective solution.
Be fair and consistent. Treat all students equally. Even if you have favorites, avoid showing favoritism in class. Apply discipline uniformly to everyone.
Maintain a positive attitude. Treat each day as a fresh opportunity for success in the classroom. Avoid assuming the worst about your students.
Move around the classroom. Walk around while teaching and during group or individual work. Provide guidance to students when issues arise.
Avoid humiliating students. If you need to discuss disciplinary issues with a student, do so privately. Call the student aside for a conversation. Never use the situation to embarrass them in front of their peers.
Managing College Classes
Incorporate rules into the syllabus. College classes consist of mature students who don’t need to be told how to behave. However, it’s still important to clearly outline your expectations for the class.
- For example, you can establish guidelines for class participation, emphasizing respect for peers and avoiding personal attacks.
- Consider setting rules on academic dishonesty, technology use, assignment submissions, etc.
- Ensure your rules align with the university’s policies by consulting with the institution.
Communicate rules on the first day. Clearly state your expectations for the class from the beginning. Provide examples of how rules will be enforced and the consequences for violations.
Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor. To earn students’ respect, present yourself confidently and professionally. A casual appearance might lead students to question your authority.
- While professionalism is key, you don’t need to be overly distant. Sharing a few personal details can make you more relatable and help students connect with you.
Learn students’ names. College classes often have large groups of students, making it easy to remain anonymous. This creates a gap between students and instructors, fostering a sense of detachment. Knowing students’ names helps create a learning environment where they feel valued.
Consider disciplinary issues before acting. If a student is disruptive due to consistent tardiness, think about possible reasons. Speak with the student privately after class or during office hours. They might be juggling work and school, making punctuality difficult. In such cases, you could offer flexibility or suggest a class that better fits their schedule.
Maintain records of disciplinary issues. When handling disciplinary matters, ensure you document every step taken. Consult with your department and superiors about the procedures for addressing such issues.
Handling Classroom Conflicts
Use the LEAST system. The National Education Association developed the LEAST system to provide teachers with a strategy for managing classroom conflicts. Start with the first step and, if necessary, proceed to the next. Work through each step to resolve conflicts.
- L: Leave it alone. If the disruption is minor and unlikely to recur, you can ignore it.
- E: End the action indirectly. When a student causes a disturbance, let them know you’ve noticed their behavior. Use non-verbal cues like raising an eyebrow, waving, or moving closer to the student.
- A: Attend more fully. Ask the student to explain what happened. Inquire about the situation and who was involved.
- S: Spell out directions. Remind the student of the rules and consequences. Be prepared to enforce penalties after warning the student.
- T: Track student progress. Document disciplinary issues. Record the incident, those involved, the time it occurred, and your response.
Stay calm. The best approach in a conflict situation is to remain composed. Avoid showing negative emotions or anger in front of students. Instead, stay calm and in control. Speak in a normal tone.
- Taking a few deep breaths can help you maintain composure.
Address conflicts privately. Take the student aside to discuss the issue. This removes them from the scene and separates them from others who might contribute to the disruption.
- Do not involve other students in the conflict.
Avoid getting drawn into arguments with students. Maintain a calm demeanor. If a student tries to provoke you into a confrontation, don’t take the bait. Stay firm but composed.
- If the student continues to argue, say, "We’ll discuss this after class." This temporarily defuses the conflict.
Use conflict as a teaching moment. If an argument occurs in class, address it in the next session. Ask students how they resolved the issue. Encourage them to reflect on differing perspectives and why disagreements arise.
- This is especially effective when discussing sensitive topics. If a debate heats up, ask students to pause and reflect on why the discussion became intense.
Handling Angry Students in the Classroom
Ensure the safety of other students. If a student becomes extremely agitated, your top priority is to protect the safety of others.
- If bullying occurs, learn strategies to stop it.
- Consider ending the class early if tensions escalate.
Stay calm and neutral. Avoid intervening in the conflict until the student has calmed down. Maintain composure and avoid taking sides.
Avoid physical contact with the student. While your instinct might be to place a hand on the student’s shoulder to calm them down, it’s hard to predict how an angry person might react. Maintain a safe distance.
Ask another student to seek help. If the situation escalates, have another student find assistance. The presence of another teacher or authority figure can help defuse tension and provide support.
Document the incident. If an incident occurs, such as a student becoming overly aggressive or angry, record the details. Immediately after the event, note the situation, including what happened, the time, and the names of involved students.
- Submit a copy to school administration and keep one for yourself in case parents need to review it.
Contact the student’s parents. If the incident is serious, you or the principal may need to inform the student’s parents. Stick to the facts when explaining what happened, avoiding personal opinions.
Discuss the incident with students. Use the conflict as a teaching moment. Reassure your students that they are safe in your classroom.
Advice
- Familiarize yourself with school guidelines. Ensure classroom rules and consequences align with school policies, including penalties for rule violations.
- If you struggle with classroom discipline, seek advice from your principal or colleagues for effective strategies.
- Explore workshops and online forums on improving classroom discipline. Check with your school administration to see if they can fund your participation in such events.
Warnings
- Learn how to handle conflicts or disciplinary issues that escalate into violence by referring to the article “How to Prevent School Violence.”
