Effective teachers begin the year by putting into place procedures and routines that will become automatic for the students. Because teachers are able to manage the class using these established routines, the need for discipline will be less of an issue. These teachers develop a plan of action from the first day of school, and continue to implement the plan throughout the year.
For instance, students are aware of what to do when they are tardy or absent, where to put their backpacks, and what to do when they first enter the class. They know where their homework goes on a daily basis, and can complete tasks without asking the teacher. They know ahead of time what process should be used to attain the teachers’ attention, or any other management procedures that might otherwise disrupt the class. Most students enter school with some prior knowledge of basic procedures based from their home environment. These basic processes, or lack thereof, can help teachers maintain classroom control or lose control quickly.
Introduce Classroom Procedures
A good way to begin the school year is for the teacher to make a classroom management plan. The teacher should also write out a script for the first day, or even the first week of school. This should detail procedures that are to be used in the classroom throughout the year. The plan should be shown to students on the first day of school. A PowerPoint presentation can help to introduce the information regarding procedures and routines. In addition, discussion and role-play would cement the routines in the students’ minds and assess their knowledge. The procedures should be reviewed constantly throughout the first few weeks of school in particular. The three step approach for teaching classroom procedures are:
- Explain: State, explain, model and demonstrate
- Rehearse: Practice with supervision
- Reinforce: Re-teach, rehearse, practice and reinforce until it becomes habit
Follow a Classroom Management Plan
Classroom discipline is really a response to a class that is not well managed. In a class with procedures and routines in place, there will be less need for discipline. If students know the consequences up front of various acts, they will be less likely to commit the acts that require disciplinary action.
Within the first week of school, the teacher should walk the students through what is expected of them throughout the year. Students should be given choices concerning consequences for undesirable behavior so that they feel they are contributing to the classroom environment. Teachers should continually remind and reinforce expectations throughout the year.
Avoid Overusing Discipline and Reward Methods
Teachers who use ineffective discipline will use consequences and rewards to get their students to behave in a manner that is appropriate to their classroom. They might have a student change their card, or take away privileges. They will probably use a reward system such as stickers, or privileges for good behavior. Although these procedures are acceptable to some degree, they are often overused, and should serve to accent procedures that are already in place to manage classroom behavior.
If children are aware of class procedures from the first day of school, they will know what is acceptable and what is not, and will be more inclined to follow the classroom plan. In addition, the extrinsic motivation that rewards provide might encourage students to work for the reward rather than the intrinsic motivation of obtaining success for their own sense of self-achievement. The ultimate goal is to encourage them to want to learn to increase their knowledge stores, and not to receive an outside reward.
Classroom Management
Finally, effective teachers can structure and organize the classroom for effective learning, where students gain an education in an environment that is task oriented. Consistency in the classroom is the key to making procedures work. They should be predictable routines that the children follow daily.
When the teacher is able to teach routines and procedures, the classroom will run effectively and smoothly. Classroom management and discipline are not the same things. With a good management plan in place that teaches students the routines and procedures of the classroom, no real discipline problems should occur. Classroom management is an integral part of running a well-organized and effective classroom where children can achieve optimum learning.
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