Difference Between Classroom Management and Discipline
Effective classroom management and discipline go hand in hand. I have always started the beginning of the school year off with the building of teamwork, and placing emphasis on our class is our team. The students help with creating what they believe appropriate team behavior looks like. This has always been very successful in managing student behavior and it builds a sense of classroom comradery.
However, there is a difference between effective classroom management and discipline. Effective classroom management is a multitude of little things that all work together to prevent potential behavior problems. Discipline can act as a consequence for misbehavior or a guide/redirection away from misbehavior, and towards expected classroom behavior.
Effective classroom management relies on the feng shui and functionality of the environment, consistency, clear precise guidelines, teacher warmth, respect, and modeled behavior.
When a situation is unpreventable (before appropriate discipline is implemented) the teacher must reflect on why the student is behaving in that way. People behave for three reasons: to avoid pain, for social rewards, or out of respect for themselves. This will help the teacher to take the appropriate steps in selecting the right form of discipline for the student.
Discipline derives from the Latin meaning of “to learn”. When it comes to discipline it is important not to confuse this with consequences. Discipline should guide and nurture positive behavior, offering redirection when needed, praise for doing well, and repetition on what type of behavior is expected while in school.
Expectations
The class expectations will be discussed at the beginning of the year, and posted in the classroom.
I will also post expectations that the students should have for me.
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You don’t have to like or agree with everybody, but you do need to be kind.
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Respect is key. Respect yourself, respect your peers, respect your teacher, and respect your environment.
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Come to school prepared to learn, be creative, and have FUN!
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Always try your best.
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Everyone makes mistakes. It’s ok to make mistakes, as long as you try to fix them.
Classroom Rules
Students will help create the classroom rules and guidelines at the beginning of each school year.
Students will create and sign our classroom contract, and it will be posted in the classroom.
Below is an example of what they would look like.
The 3 Bees:
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Bee Safe
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What does that mean? Walk indoors, feet on floor, keep chairs tucked in.
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Bee Kind
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What does that mean? Treat peers, teacher and classroom with respect.
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Bee Responsible
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What does that mean? Keep your learning space clean and organized, try your best, have open communication.
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Student Accountability and Consequences
It is important to teach accountability and that there are consequences for all actions, whether positive or negative. Accountability for ones own actions is an important life lesson, and will connect to teaching metacognition.
Student accountability will tie directly into the classes’ expectations and rules/guidelines, and they will appropriately match the behavior. For example, if a student does not implement one of their 3 Bees: Bee Safe, and ran in the classroom – I would ask the child to go back and walk. If a child does not implement the Bee Responsible, and their personal learning space is cluttered with books or things on the floor – I would have the child tidy up before they were allowed to go to recess or lunch. Students will learn from day one that they are personally accountable for maintaining their 3 Bees.
If student behavior requires a more kinesthetic approach to discipline then the following techniques could be enforced:
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Verbal Warning: for behaviors that should stop immediately.
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Self-Correction/Second Chance: for behaviors that can be done differently and more appropriately.
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Redirection: for behaviors that would cease with a change of topic or setting.
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Non-Punitive Emotional Break: for behaviors that emotion has escalated beyond the point of logical thought or emotional control.
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Removal from the Classroom: for behavior that is extreme or unmanageable.
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Parent Contact: for behaviors that are continuous and the student is not showing signs of improvement or behavior modification.
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