Harry Wong ‘s Classroom Management Lyn Steed ECED 3271 University of West Georgia

Discipline with a Plan Effective teachers introduce rules, procedures, and routines on the very first day of school and continue to teach them the first week of school. Effective teachers present their rules, clearly and provide reasonable explanations of the need for them. If you DO NOT HAVE a PLAN, you are PLANNING TO FAIL!

Basic Structure for a Discipline Plan Rules: what the expected behaviors are. Consequences: what the student chooses to accept if a rule is broken. Rewards: what the student receives for appropriate behavior.

Two Kinds of Rules General rules: usually encompass many behaviors. Example- Respect others. Advantage: offer flexibility in that a great deal of behavior can be covered by a few general rules. Disadvantage: students have to know exactly what behaviors are acceptable and not acceptable. Are usually more successful when used by effective veteran teachers.

Specific rules: are to the point and clearly cover one behavior Specific rules: are to the point and clearly cover one behavior. Example: Be in class on time. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself. Advantage: clearly state the expected student behavior. Disadvantage: you are limited to no more than five rules, therefore you must have good management skills and know exactly what behaviors are important to you. Usually used by beginning teachers or by experienced teacher looking for a better discipline system.

How to Introduce Your Rules Important to introduce on first day. You have carefully planned for what you want to accomplish. You have posted the rules, along with consequences and rewards. You have copies to go home to parents. Only have 3-5 rules posted. Rules do not include academic work.

Explain you are there for the students to learn and be successful. Explain the need to work together and having a class where no one is ridiculed or threaten. You will not allow students to do anything that will interfere with someone who is trying to learn. Explain you have an exciting year planned and you will not allow anyone to interfere with your desire to teach. Explain you have a set of rules to ensure that everyone will have a safe and orderly learning environment.

Why Rules Are Necessary To provide a safe and protected learning environment. To set limits. Students need to feel that someone is in control and responsible for their environment

Discipline Plans have Consequences Rules are most effective when there are consequences to enforce them and reward them. Students will test the rules to find the limits of their behavior and to determine if a rule will be enforced or not. Students will swiftly violate a rule that others are violating if the rule is not enforced. Students often observe that teachers do not mean what they say.

Consequences can be Positive or Negative Consequences are what result when a person abides by or breaks a rule. A consequence is the result of a person’s chosen action. Consequences are not punishments, but penalties. Positive consequences are rewards that result when people abide by the rules. Negative consequences are penalties that result when people break the rules.

EXAMPLE If you choose to break a rule 1st time - name on board 2nd time – one check (15 min. after school) 3rd time – two checks (30 min. after school) 4th time – three checks (45 min. after school, parents called) 5th time – four checks (60 min. after school, referral written and sent to office.) Severe Disruption – Student sent immediately to office.

DO NOT STOP the lesson when giving out a consequence. When you see a violation of one of the rules, immediately give out the penalty. Give out the penalty quietly as you continue with the lesson or class work.

Getting Administrative Support If there is no schoolwide discipline plan, Present your plan in writing with rules, consequences, and rewards. Check that your plan does not violate any board policy and can be supported by administrators. Show the administrator that you plan to refer the student to the office after a certain number of violations. Ask what they plan to do when you refer a student to the office.

Getting Parental Support Give parents a copy of the discipline plan to use as a basis for home-school cooperation. Use “My Action Plan” with students and call parents to ask for their cooperation in helping the student follow through with the action plan. Always deal with the behavior, not the person.

My Action Plan What’s the problem? What’s causing the problem? Indicate which rule or rules the student has violated. What’s causing the problem? student list all the factors that are causing the problem to occur. What plan will you use to solve the problem? student is write the action plan needed to solve the problem.

Rewards or positive consequences Best reward is the satisfaction of a job well done. Post rewards, indicate the time factor associated with reward. Explain that students EARN rewards. Explain how you will post the number of good behavior toward the class reward.

EXAMPLE REWARDS Daily: Sunshine notes/ Table points Weekly: Class free time (No detentions given) Monthly: video/field trip/ special activity. (80% or higher citizenship) Marking Period: ice cream party (100% citizenship)

Successful Plan Do not argue with a student. When asked what did I do? Answer with You CHOSE to break rule # ___. Repeat over and over, but calmly. Discipline with your body, not your MOUTH. Relax, wait for correct action, and use please and thank you. Give positive feedback to individuals as well as to the class.

The number one problem in the classroom is not discipline; it is the lack of procedures and routines. Remember to teach procedures: Explain, Rehearse, Reinforce