New Teacher Tips: How to Prevent Discipline Problems

Many potentially good new teachers become absorbed in managing the class and reporting bad behavior. They tend to focus on the negative consequences of their students' misbehavior. As a result, they lose focus of what their students can do, instead of what they can't.

Effective classroom management is dependent on the degree the teacher helps students believe they can be successful using the personal touch. Here are a few tips to help you build a more personal connection with your students. The key is to do it consistently way before discipline problems begin.

Give the student a sense of belonging

Consider the changing the way you relate to your disruptive student who often creates havoc in your lessons as a perfect opportunity to neutralize negative behavior. Whether they are upset about a friend or a test, teachers need to act as "emotional guardians" and not only as disciplinarians. Often the students' very own fear of failure causes them to misbehave. Here are some ways to give students a sense of belonging:

· Say something positive in a calm and reassuring way

· Smile at the student; it will deflect some of the negative tension. Your classroom will be calmer too.

· Say something that also creates a positive relationship with the rest of the class. Example: "Adam looks a little tired, doesn't he class?"

Set the expectation on the very first day that every student will succeed.

From the first day, approach your class with a positive affirmation. I always write on the board on the first day of school: "We are all working together - I am here to see you succeed" This gives the class the message that I am not just their teacher and I am also looking out for their well- being. Students feel when you want them to succeed and they will try and live up to that expectation.

Turn individual problems into a cooperative classroom relationship

When a student begins to misbehave, look for the cues and use some of the tips to build the personal touch. Instead of just dealing one-on-one with the student, involve the entire class in the scenario. Start

by asking how his or her day went, or say something like: "I saw you on the basketball court and you were excellent." Then you can turn to the class and say: "wasn't he great?" or "You did so well yesterday in English class, let's see if s/he can do that again." Over time, you will raise that student's self-esteem and strengthen your relationship with the entire class.

New teachers often feel a sense of urgency to quickly report discipline problems in order to fulfill their roles as classroom managers. Effective classroom management means doing something that also makes you appear more human and approachable to the students. Initially, this is hard for new teachers to balance, but it is a necessary first step.