22 Tips on Dealing with Classroom Discipline

If you hoped to have been making strides in your classroom management, and students aren't paying attention to your lessons as much should, chances are, you may need to step out of current comfort zone just a bit, and see how you've been managing your class until now. All teachers need to evaluate their actions from time to time, but new teachers especially, need to work much harder to discipline their class. Take a look at these discipline strategies as you evaluate how you come across as a classroom manager and what you are currently doing to establish a productive classroom environment.

It's understandable that the word "discipline" usually has an unpleasant connotation for most of us. And when the climate is a negative one, even your best lesson plans are useless. Instilling discipline for learning really emphasizes the systematic and positive training you provide for your students to help them develop self-control. Successful discipline depends on how you select effective discipline strategies. These strategies are crucial in situations when you will have the reins of your own classroom and you will need to know how to deal effectively with discipline, problem students and parents when there is little or no administrative support.

• Start by being firm with students: you can relax later.

• Get silence before you start speaking to the class.

• Know and use the students' names.

• Prepare lessons thoroughly and structure them tightly.

• Be mobile: walk around the class.

• Start the lesson with a "bang" and sustain interest and curiosity.

• Speak clearly.

• Make sure your instructions are clear.

• Have extra material prepared (i.e. to cope with slower or faster working students)

• Look at the class when speaking, and learn how to 'scan.'

• Create activities that are appropriate to students' age, ability, and cultural background.

• Develop and effective questioning technique. (see resource page on "Questioning")

• Develop the art of timing your lesson to fit the available period.

• Vary your teaching techniques.

• Anticipate discipline problems and act quickly.

• Avoid confrontations

• Clarify fixed rules and standards, and be consistent in applying them.

• Show yourself as a supporter and helper to the students.

• Don't patronize students, treat them with respect.

• Use humor constructively.

• Choose topics and tasks that will activate students.

• Be warm and friendly (not too friendly!) to the students.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Take comfort in the thought that you are not alone with your discipline problems. We all experience them-even those teachers who seem to have well-disciplined classes. Successful teachers do have discipline problems just like the rest of us, but they have found ways to minimize their negative impact.

Fortunately, the discipline dilemma that you face, has solutions. You can take control of your classes. You can have a positive learning environment in your classrooms.