Many first year teachers struggle with student discipline. By answering the following questions, recognize the behavior strategies used by your cooperating teacher that work or do not work in the classroom.
How are expectations for behavior, routines, and learning explained? What are the guidelines for classroom behavior? How is appropriate behavior encouraged? How does the teacher react to inappropriate behavior? What techniques both verbal and nonverbal are used to cue appropriate behavior? What strategies does the teacher use to prevent problems?
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for the most part my teacher went over it all on the first day of the year, she stated what was expected, the rules, and what behaviors where right and wrong and the punishments for each bad action. She also had posters set up around the room as simple reminders of her classroom rules.She would reward students for good actions by giving them diffrent passes such as drink a soda in class, bonus points pass, chew gum in class, choose your seat for a day, and if you got real lucky a homework pass. My teacher used the first offenders of the rules as an example to the other kids, she made sure that everyone in the clss room knew what the rule they broke was and what the punishment was.
ReplyDeleteBy watching my observations, I've noticed that the when a student does something out of order, the teacher is calm with the student at repremending him or her by simply telling the student "Now, do you want to go outside?" or "Was that very nice?" in a tone that was kind, yet serious. The students also have posters on the walls of their classroom with reminders of how Jesus acts and how He wants us to act towards each other.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in grade school, I cant remember what grade it was, but our teacher had the Golden rule taped on the wall. It was in a ten-commandment like setting and font so it stood out, meaning it drew attention alot when students' eyes wondered around the room. I think this is smart because if a students' mind begins to wonder, even if they're not learning what they're being currently "taught", there's something else catching his or her eye, stimulating his or her brain for some potential learning in something.
ReplyDeleteI remember in grade school some teachers would let us help them come up with the rules for our class. A student would suggest a rule, and then the teacher would explain why it was a good rule. The guidlines were to respect others, yourself, and school materials.
ReplyDeleteGood behaviors were rewarded with verbal praise ("good job," "well done," "excellent"), stickers, candy prizes, and the chance to be line leader. If a student was really good, they sometimes became student of the week. If a student misbehaved they were given a warning. The teacher would also shake her head or finger no, clap her hands for the students to repeat after her to regain attention, or sometimes just wait quietly until students noticed she wasn't speaking. If a student continued to misbehave, they could lose time from recess, have to go to the end of the line, or get a strike. The strike system was for 5th graders; 3 strikes in a day and you were out. At the end of every month, there was a "no out" party for students who never got an out for misbehaving. At the end of the year, the 3 students with the least cumulative number of strikes and zero outs from each class got to go the Cardinals game with the teachers.
To prevent problems in the classroom, teachers would move students away from those who would tempt them to talk. Teachers would also give students some time to move and talk so they wouldn't be fidety during lessons. The teachers would also give reminders of what is expected and review the rules of the classroom with students.
Ms. Evans gets on to the student once as a warning them she either moves them or gives them sentences to write. She will also threaten to send them to the principal or threaten more homework. When the bell rings you need to be in your seat. You also need to start on the assignment on the board and there shouldn't be any talking. The appropriate behavior is encouraged by a list of rules on the wall and when students tend to break the rules she usually goes over the rules again. Ms. Evans doesn't tolerate alot she threatens alot of sentences or moves the student. She doesn't let the class talk that much either.She means business. Verbal is the teacher gettin on to the students no verbal is the class room rules tapped to the wall in the back.Ms. Evans will just stop talking all together and stare at the student that is talking which makes the student embarrased which usually the student will not act out anymore.
ReplyDeleteTO:AshleyHop: I like the way the teacher is calm to the student. I think my teacher wasn't very calm because it was a freshman class and they r more older but still I think she couldn't have been more calm. She was a red head just like me that had a bad temper. I also agree and like the "golden rules" tapped on the wall that drew attention to the students that were wondering in class. I agree with that because when the student realizes what they r doing and reads the rules they focus back on the teacher.
ReplyDeleteit helps alot when the teacher sticks to the same rules without bending them or letting things go, treating every student equally. that way they all know that there are rules that everyone must follow. there must be some kind of consequence for the student to face in order for them to learn.
ReplyDelete(Reply to Hannah) Ms. Evans seems to be really, really strict. Is she a new teacher who is trying to "establish" her authority? Her disciplinary methods seem to get her what she wants (a quite, orderly room), but does she have a good relationship with the students in spite of her threatening ways?
ReplyDeleteGreat responses guys!
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest complaints from area principals when surveyed about Lindenwood teacher education graduates that work in their building is that they do not have good classroom management. What are you going to do in your classroom to make sure that your students aren't disrupting class four years from now when you are in your first year of teaching?
In the classes I am observing I have two teachers teaching the class. I have noticed that they work as a team. If one student starts to get out of line they will do one of two things: 1 just look at them and warn them or kick them out of the class. The student always is asked to return at the end of class unless the other teacher gets the issue fixed. It seems like they also like to play the good cop bad cop thing. It is interesting to see them handle the students. They make the classroom fun and enjoyable. Once in awhile a student will say something funny and memorable. When this happens they get to write it down and post it on the board for the rest of the classes read them. They relate to the students very well which helps to keep the issues down, since I haven't really seen any problems.
ReplyDelete(Hannah)-- I agree with Liz. It does sound like Ms.Evans is trying to prove something and have total control. To a point I can see why but at the same time there is always to much control. There is no way that she is relating to the students which makes that classroom environment difficult to learn in.
ReplyDelete(Mrs. Bishop)-- I have been told by some teachers that using idea's that other teachers in the school use is a good way to get started. That away two things you know that it works and the students don't get confused on who has what rules.
In the classroom I am observing the teacher uses different colored cards to aknowladge if the student has misbehaved that day. If the student somehow misbehaves they get a colored card taken away and a note written in their student assignment book that their parents see everynight.
ReplyDeleteI have had substitutes for my class all week, but she was there monday, my first day. The first day I was there she had the class all quiet and had them put their thumbs in the air when they were done going the task she asked them to do. It was totaly diiferent when the substitutes were there the class was louder than normal and the subs did things differently that the teacher.
Brittany st john,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with what you said about the fact that the teachers need to stick to their own rules and not bend them for certain students. That would be just plan wrong and it wouldnt tell the students she/he is teating them all equally.
i remember in my elementry classrooms my teachers asked us what we thought good rules were and since we had a say in what the rules were we were expected to follow them more closely. so all of our classroom rules were rote down on the board and if we thought of new one thruout the semester we added them to the board.
ReplyDeleteBrittany,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you said. I know that when I am disciplined in the same manner I know what to expect and know where the line is. I think that is the best way to do it.
The teacher that I observed actually did not discipline very well. She kind of let the students do whatever they want, and if she did speak up and ask them to do something then she never followed through. She would ask students to keep quiet and when they didn't she just never said anything again. By observing day after day I realized that the students figured out what I had already. They walked all over her. The teacher is a great teacher, and she's very smart and passionate about what she does. I would try to be like her in every aspect, except discipline. I don't want my students walking all over me.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher that i am observing is not as strict when it comes to discipline. She has a thing called a football chart. when a student does something bad, then they have to move their football back 10 yards. when they move back more than 3 times, then they lose their recess. If the student does something well, then they get to move their football up 10 yards. When they move their football up more than 3 times then they get to sit at the teachers desk. The teacher does not have to tell her students to move their footballs many times because she has complete control ovet the class and the students know not to misbehave.
ReplyDeleteBrittany i agree with you. A teacher can not favor a student over another student. they havet to stick to what their disciplinary rules are for everyone. If they do not stick with them, then the students will push the teachers limits too see how far she will go before she breaks.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Bishop, the fifth grade teacher I am observing has excellent classroom management! However, I think this is a big thanks to the “fifth grade team” she is a part of. All of the teachers work together in their classroom management routines. At High Croft Elementary in Parkway they have some great kids. High Croft has many sayings to name a couple “be where you’re supposed to be with what you’re supposed to have, when you’re supposed to be there” and “be kind with your hands feet, mouth and objects.“ The teacher I am observing has only had to send three students to the principal’s office in her 4 years of teaching there out of college.
ReplyDeleteIn the fifth grade, from the first few days of school, the structure of individual class time is modeled, so the kids are familiar with what is expected in the class. I have noticed that instead of focusing on bad behavior, good behavior is rewarded in many ways. The teacher(s) send emails, letters home, and make simple phone calls to let the parents know about the good the students do. When a student goes out of their way to do something good, they can get a “Gotcha” and they get to go down to the principal to tell the principal personally of the good they did. They best part is the sticker they get to leave with - “Ask me why I got to go to the Principal’s Office today?” One of the students in the class was rewarded with a Gotcha for going out of his way and organizing the computer cart.
This teacher does not raise her voice. I have watched this teacher use proximity control she will walk up and softly place her hand on the students shoulder or simply stand next to them to get their attention. She will also get the kids attention by talking to them individually a question, what are you suppose to be doing right now or what are you working on? Their team uses flip cards. Everyone starts out with a green card then they can go from green to white a warning, white to yellow a phone call home, and then yellow to a red card resulting in being sent to the principal’s office. The cards get flipped for reasons such as not turning in homework or not being respectful. The kids can get bonus time 15 minutes every Thursday if they have not had a card flipped twice examples of what their bonus time consist of are silent ball, hang man, and heads up seven up. Misbehavior is prevented; the kids never stop talking about compliments (another form of a reward they get), the gotcha’s, and wanting to have their 15 minutes of bonus time each week.
This school is filled with great kids and teachers.
WOW! Oops, I did not mean to write so much. :)
ReplyDeleteThe PE class i have been observing at francis howell north hasent exactly used any specific methods to enforce discipline. When the students walk in to the classroom they sign in and the entire class seems to already to know what is expected. The students seem to be more on a friendship status with there teacher, so when any student acts out, i simple private conversation seems to do the trick.
ReplyDeleteLike Ian, my teacher went over the guidelines, rules, expectations, and the consequence of the students behavior on the first day of school.The way that the behavior is encouraged is by giving them some sort of reward, such as, extra credit or something in relation. The way that this teacher reacts to inappropriate behavior is by punishment. The teacher doesn't draw attention to the student in front of the whole class, they take the student aside so there isn't a scene.Although the teacher punishes the student they also reinforce the student as well. Techniques used to cue appropriate behavior is eye contact, acknoledgement of the good behavior and using them as a good example. The startegies that this teacher uses to prevent problems are as simple as showing authority. They show that they have control and if anyone gets out of line then they get punished.
ReplyDeleteI can remember what Lauren is talking about... How the teachers ask the students what they believe is "fair". That is how alot of my teachers did it in high school.
ReplyDeleteAshley I think that that is great that your teacher is calm when disciplining the children in their class. I had a teacher in middle school who absolutely lost it on children in her class all the time and because she didn't respect the children when they were out of line, her students were disrespectful of her and her teaching. I also think that it is a great idea putting up classroom expectations around the classroom because they are there for the child to see at all times.
ReplyDeleteWhat my teacher did was lay out the rules the first couple days of class, and over the next couple of weeks were pretty strict with them to kinda set the boundries so the students know what is and is not acceptable. They definitely rewarded good behavior with free homework passes and other little stuff. They also met inappropriate behavior without hesitating, not afraid to write detensions or send kids to the office. What my teacher does is use their voice as a verbal cue, they have a pretty loud voice that is really effective. And to prevent problems they just keep control of the classroom all the time, dont let things get to out of hand
ReplyDeletemy teacher sounds really simalar to malachs. Both sound pretty even keel, not overly oppresive, but not a push over
ReplyDeleteI assisted in a daycare classroom this summer that was very disorganized the classroom had two teachers and I was to go from class to class filling in where I was needed. The two teachers didn't follow rules together and the one would allow things that the other would not. It was very confusing not only for me but for the children. These children didn't know what was acceptable in the class and it also caused some troubles between the two teachers because one would tell a child they couldn't do something, then the child would go ask the other teacher and they would say yes. It was very disorganized. I think it would have been a better environment if the two teachers would have discussed what each of their expectations were.
ReplyDeletethe teacher i am observing goes over the rules and expectations of the students when the students misbehave.
ReplyDeletei think it is effective when teachers discuss the rules and guidelines for the class at the beginning of the year. it is important to make sure everyone understands them. my mom teaches fifth grade and she has a "contract" that every student must sign saying they understand all of the classroom rules and proper classroom etiquette. then the students have to take that home and have their parents read over and sign it as well. she does this so all students and parents know ahead of time what is expected of them. if there is ever an issue she immediately pulls out the contract and explains how since they have signed it they should know how to act. it works really well, the kids dont ever want to have their contract pulled out, most kids seem almost embarrased if that happens, because everyone signed one, so they should know the rules.
ReplyDeletebrittany,
ReplyDeletei think that treating all students the same is the way to be as well. when kids know they are equal it is easier to know what everyone is responsible for.
When observing, I have noticed that because my teacher is very experienced, she holds control of her classroom very well. My teacher walks around the classroom to discourage innappropriate behavior and she makes indirect comments such as "I'm not going to call on people who are not sitting in their seats correctly" when students are out of their seats. Also, she encourages good behavior with rewards as well as compliments throughout the lesson.
ReplyDeleteAshley, While I agree that discussing the guidelines at the beginning of the year is very effictive, I also believe that you should focus on those guidelines throughout the year. If you only go over the guidelines once throughout a year, the effictiveness wears off, and there is no way a child is able to remember all or any of those guidelines.
ReplyDelete