Harry Wong ‘sHarry Wong ‘sClassroom ManagementClassroom Management

Lyn SteedLyn Steed

ECED 3271ECED 3271

University of West GeorgiaUniversity of West Georgia

Discipline with a PlanDiscipline with a Plan

Effective teachers introduce rules, Effective teachers introduce rules, procedures, and routines on the very procedures, and routines on the very first day of school and continue to first day of school and continue to teach them the first week of school.teach them the first week of school.

Effective teachers present their rules, Effective teachers present their rules, clearly and provide reasonable clearly and provide reasonable explanations of the need for them.explanations of the need for them.

If you DO NOT HAVE a PLAN, you are If you DO NOT HAVE a PLAN, you are PLANNING TO FAIL!PLANNING TO FAIL!

Basic Structure for aBasic Structure for a Discipline Plan Discipline Plan

Rules: what the expected behaviors Rules: what the expected behaviors are.are.

Consequences: what the student Consequences: what the student chooses to accept if a rule is broken.chooses to accept if a rule is broken.

Rewards: what the student receives Rewards: what the student receives for appropriate behavior.for appropriate behavior.

Two Kinds of RulesTwo Kinds of Rules General rulesGeneral rules: usually encompass many : usually encompass many

behaviors. Example- Respect others. behaviors. Example- Respect others. AdvantageAdvantage: offer flexibility in that a great : offer flexibility in that a great

deal of behavior can be covered by a few deal of behavior can be covered by a few general rules.general rules.

DisadvantageDisadvantage: students have to know : students have to know exactly what behaviors are acceptable and exactly what behaviors are acceptable and not acceptable.not acceptable.

Are usually more successful when used by Are usually more successful when used by effective veteran teachers.effective veteran teachers.

Specific rulesSpecific rules: are to the point and clearly : are to the point and clearly cover one behavior. Example: Be in class cover one behavior. Example: Be in class on time. Keep your hands, feet and objects on time. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself.to yourself.

AdvantageAdvantage: clearly state the expected : clearly state the expected student behavior.student behavior.

DisadvantageDisadvantage: you are limited to no more : you are limited to no more than five rules, therefore you must have than five rules, therefore you must have good management skills and know exactly good management skills and know exactly what behaviors are important to you.what behaviors are important to you.

Usually used by beginning teachers or by Usually used by beginning teachers or by experienced teacher looking for a better experienced teacher looking for a better discipline systemdiscipline system..

How to Introduce Your RulesHow to Introduce Your Rules

Important to introduce on first day.Important to introduce on first day. You have carefully planned for what You have carefully planned for what

you want to accomplish.you want to accomplish. You have posted the rules, along with You have posted the rules, along with

consequences and rewards.consequences and rewards. You have copies to go home to You have copies to go home to

parents.parents. Only have 3-5 rules posted. Rules do Only have 3-5 rules posted. Rules do

not include academic work.not include academic work.

Explain you are there for the students to Explain you are there for the students to learn and be successful.learn and be successful.

Explain the need to work together and Explain the need to work together and having a class where no one is ridiculed or having a class where no one is ridiculed or threaten. You will not allow students to do threaten. You will not allow students to do anything that will interfere with someone anything that will interfere with someone who is trying to learn.who is trying to learn.

Explain you have an exciting year planned Explain you have an exciting year planned and you will not allow anyone to interfere and you will not allow anyone to interfere with your desire to teach.with your desire to teach.

Explain you have a set of rules to ensure Explain you have a set of rules to ensure that everyone will have a safe and orderly that everyone will have a safe and orderly learning environment.learning environment.

Why Rules Are NecessaryWhy Rules Are Necessary

To provide a safe and protected To provide a safe and protected learning environment.learning environment.

To set limits.To set limits.

Students need to feel that someone Students need to feel that someone is in control and responsible for their is in control and responsible for their environmentenvironment

Discipline Plans have Discipline Plans have ConsequencesConsequences

Rules are most effective when there are Rules are most effective when there are consequences to enforce them and reward consequences to enforce them and reward them.them.

Students will test the rules to find the Students will test the rules to find the limits of their behavior and to determine if limits of their behavior and to determine if a rule will be enforced or not.a rule will be enforced or not.

Students will swiftly violate a rule that Students will swiftly violate a rule that others are violating if the rule is not others are violating if the rule is not enforced.enforced.

Students often observe that teachers do Students often observe that teachers do not mean what they say.not mean what they say.

Consequences can be Consequences can be Positive or NegativePositive or Negative

Consequences are what result when a Consequences are what result when a person abides by or breaks a rule.person abides by or breaks a rule.

A consequence is the result of a person’s A consequence is the result of a person’s chosen action.chosen action.

Consequences are not punishments, but Consequences are not punishments, but penalties.penalties.

Positive consequences are rewards that Positive consequences are rewards that result when people abide by the rules.result when people abide by the rules.

Negative consequences are penalties that Negative consequences are penalties that result when people break the rules.result when people break the rules.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

If you choose to break a ruleIf you choose to break a rule11stst time - name on board time - name on board22ndnd time – one check (15 min. after school) time – one check (15 min. after school)33rdrd time – two checks (30 min. after school) time – two checks (30 min. after school)44thth time – three checks (45 min. after school, time – three checks (45 min. after school,

parents called)parents called)55thth time – four checks (60 min. after school, time – four checks (60 min. after school,

referral written and sent to office.)referral written and sent to office.)Severe Disruption – Student sent Severe Disruption – Student sent

immediately to office.immediately to office.

DO NOT STOP the lesson when DO NOT STOP the lesson when giving out a consequence.giving out a consequence.

When you see a violation of one of When you see a violation of one of the rules, immediately give out the the rules, immediately give out the penalty.penalty.

Give out the penalty quietly as you Give out the penalty quietly as you continue with the lesson or class continue with the lesson or class work.work.

Getting Administrative SupportGetting Administrative Support

If there is no schoolwide discipline plan,If there is no schoolwide discipline plan, Present your plan in writing with rules, Present your plan in writing with rules,

consequences, and rewards.consequences, and rewards. Check that your plan does not violate any board Check that your plan does not violate any board

policy and can be supported by administrators.policy and can be supported by administrators. Show the administrator that you plan to refer the Show the administrator that you plan to refer the

student to the office after a certain number of student to the office after a certain number of violations.violations.

Ask what they plan to do when you refer a Ask what they plan to do when you refer a student to the office.student to the office.

Getting Parental SupportGetting Parental Support

Give parents a copy of the discipline Give parents a copy of the discipline plan to use as a basis for home-plan to use as a basis for home-school cooperation.school cooperation.

Use “My Action Plan” with students Use “My Action Plan” with students and call parents to ask for their and call parents to ask for their cooperation in helping the student cooperation in helping the student follow through with the action plan.follow through with the action plan.

Always deal with the behavior, not Always deal with the behavior, not the person.the person.

My Action PlanMy Action Plan

What’s the problem? What’s the problem? Indicate which rule or rules the student has Indicate which rule or rules the student has

violated.violated. What’s causing the problem?What’s causing the problem?

student list all the factors that are causing the student list all the factors that are causing the problem to occur.problem to occur.

What plan will you use to solve the What plan will you use to solve the problem?problem?

student is write the action plan needed to solve student is write the action plan needed to solve the problem.the problem.

Rewards or positive consequencesRewards or positive consequences

Best reward is the satisfaction of a Best reward is the satisfaction of a job well done.job well done.

Post rewards, indicate the time factor Post rewards, indicate the time factor associated with reward.associated with reward.

Explain that students EARN rewards.Explain that students EARN rewards. Explain how you will post the number Explain how you will post the number

of good behavior toward the class of good behavior toward the class reward.reward.

EXAMPLEEXAMPLE

REWARDSREWARDS

Daily: Sunshine notes/ Table pointsDaily: Sunshine notes/ Table points

Weekly: Class free time (No detentions Weekly: Class free time (No detentions given)given)

Monthly: video/field trip/ special Monthly: video/field trip/ special activity. (80% or higher citizenship)activity. (80% or higher citizenship)

Marking Period: ice cream partyMarking Period: ice cream party

(100% citizenship)(100% citizenship)

Successful PlanSuccessful Plan

Do not argue with a student.Do not argue with a student. When asked what did I do? Answer with When asked what did I do? Answer with

You CHOSE to break rule # ___. Repeat You CHOSE to break rule # ___. Repeat over and over, but calmly.over and over, but calmly.

Discipline with your body, not your Discipline with your body, not your MOUTH. Relax, wait for correct action, and MOUTH. Relax, wait for correct action, and use please and thank you.use please and thank you.

Give positive feedback to individuals as Give positive feedback to individuals as well as to the class.well as to the class.

The number one problem in the The number one problem in the classroom is not classroom is not disciplinediscipline; it is the ; it is the lack of procedures and routines.lack of procedures and routines.

Remember to teach procedures:Remember to teach procedures:

Explain, Rehearse, ReinforceExplain, Rehearse, Reinforce