Classroom Management and Discipline

Discipline Directory
[ Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 ]

Perhaps the single most important aspect of teaching is classroom management. You can't
successfully teach your students if you are not in control. This is also a concern of your principal and
your students' parents. Many teachers have lost their jobs due to poor classroom management.

Why Do I Have a Problem?

There are many reasons why discipline can be a problem in your classroom. One of the reasons could
be your teaching style. If you aren't reaching every one of your students, they can become bored,
disinterested and restless. As mentioned in the section on instruction, every student has their own
learning style and an area where they excel. If you are reaching these students by using a variety of
methods, they are motivated and less likely to cause trouble.

Another reason for discipline issues is that you may be dealing with students with many personal
problems. I have personally dealt with students who witnessed their fathers being gunned down, their
mother throwing them out of a moving car on the expressway, their fathers beating them so much
they were hospitalized, a family member (usually a step-father) molesting them, being forced into the
drug trade by their parents, and rape. How can a student learn when all they can think about is what
they are going home to later that afternoon? Will their rage transfer to the classroom?

Any abuse you discover must be

reported to the proper authorities. In most states, the department of child protective services are
overworked and understaffed. You will probably get little help from them. What can you do to address
the issues? Will you have time to act as counselor in addition to your regular teaching duties?

Following are a few strategies to deal with troubled students:

 Refer them to the school counselor. If your counselor is unable to squeeze the student in or is
relegated to performing administrative duties by the principal, go to step 2.
  Refer them to a local social services agency. There are many that are either free or low in
cost. For example, the Fan Free Clinic offers low cost substance abuse services, affordable
housing, medical treatment, and a food pantry. Many local churches also provide free services.
 Contact your local United Way agency. They distribute their money to many social
organizations and can give you a list of potential agencies. The Salvation Army is one of the
largest social care providers in the world. They can also give you important advice.
In larger urban areas, gang activity affects discipline. As part of initiation, students who become
members are forced to perform a crime. This crime may occur in your school. Students involved in
gangs should be immediately referred to the school administrator. There are ways to recognize
students involved in gangs and head off problems early. Following are helpful websites:
 National School Safety and Security Services- The have information about gangs and
managing them.
 National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center- This site includes violence prevention,
urban networks, best practices and effective programs.
 ERIC Digest- This site includes many articles on gang activity in the schools. There are
also articles on how violence affects children.
 Managing gangs in schools: Prevention strategies- Explains why students join gangs and how
to prevent them.
 Additional ideas and information about classroom management.

What Does My Principal Expect of Me?

Your principal will expect you to take care of discipline problems and only send students who either
have severe misbehavior or habitual offenses. Gum chewing and talking out are not reasons to send a
student to the office. I have heard many principals say, "I knew that this student must have been a
big problem because Mrs. ___ rarely sends students to the office and when she does it's for a good
reason." You will get much more support from your principal if you take care of the vast majority of
your discipline problems.

If your principal doesn't ask you for a copy of your discipline plan, give him/her a copy of your plan so
he or she knows exactly what a student has to do in your classroom to be sent to the office. Sending a
student to the office should be a last resort.

Unfortunately, there are many philosophies and styles of discipline and it can be hard to decide what
works best for you. What works for one teacher may not work for another. The best thing to do is to
pick one that you think will be successful and make adjustments later if you have problems. Most
experts will say it is better to err on the side of being too strict because it is much more difficult to
later raise the bar.

Classroom Procedures
Another important component of a successful classroom management program is a clear set of
procedures. Once students know exactly what they are expected to do with repetitive daily
procedures, there will be less behavioral problems. This PDF document on Art Room
Procedures will be helpful when coming up with procedures. You can also read a list of rules for the
art room.

Common Discipline Methods

Assertive Discipline
This is the one I used for classroom discipline. It was created by Lee Canter. Canter believes that if
you "catch" a student being good by recognizing them when they behave, they will work harder at
behaving. He also believes that there should be consistent consequences of breaking the rules that are
very clear.

In a nutshell, the teacher comes up with no more than five rules for the classroom. Each time a rule is
broken, a consequence is given. If the misbehavior continues, the consequences get more severe
every time. At the same time, students are rewarded for behaving properly. This can range from a
field trip, pizza party, and a snack.

More on Assertive Discipline...

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

This is a fairly new system that rewards positive student behavior. Introducing, modeling, and
reinforcing positive social behavior is an important step of a student's educational experience. PBIS
focuses on these four items:
1) Outcomes
2) Data
3) Practices
4) Systems

More on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports...

A Primer on Classroom Discipline

Thomas R. McDaniel published an article that has become a very popular manual for classroom
management. There are eleven techniques that are explained that help you achieve control. The
methods are Focusing, Direct Instruction, Monitoring, Modeling, Non-Verbal Cuing, Environmental
Control, Low-Profile Intervention, Assertive Discipline, Assertive I-Messages, Humanistic I-Messages,
and Positive Discipline.

More on Primer on Classroom Discipline...

Discipline With Dignity

This controversial discipline program, created by Richard L. Curwin and Allen N. Mendler, is based on
the premise that students are treated with dignity at all times. It is meant to build self-esteem and
encourage responsible behavior. This program is especially helpful in severe situations that frequently
occur in inner-city schools. Typically a contract is created by both the student and the teacher. The
contract includes prevention, "action dimension," and resolution. Your rules must make sense and be
fair.

Prevention is done with pre-planning to eliminate possible areas of problems. Make sure students are
aware of what is expected of them. The action consists of record keeping and classroom management.
Finally the resolution component is dealing with the continual rule breaker. Discipline should not
interfere with motivation. Teach responsibility rather than obedience.

The controversy with this method is the length a teacher goes to protect student dignity and the fact
there is no punishment. Students frequently select their own consequences. Teacher responses to
severe discipline problems is unusual. In this author's opinion, use this program when others fail.
Read more about the program here.
Reality Therapy (RT)
This program was created by William Glasser. The emphasis of this program is to help students
connect behavior with consequence. This is done with class meetings, clear rules, and contracts. This
also includes Positive Approach to Discipline (PAD), which is based on Reality Therapy.

More on Reality Therapy...

Transactional Analysis (TA)

This program by Dr. Eric Berne, is based on the premise that every human has a child, adult, and
parent psyche. Students and teachers are encouraged to stay in the adult domain and avoid a
parent/child relationship. Problems are dealt with cooperation and goodwill. Like Discipline With
Dignity, there is a strong focus on self esteem and motivation.

More on Transactional Analysis...

Teacher Effectiveness Training (TET)

This is another popular student discipline strategy. The purpose of TET is to increase time on task.
There are seven skills that are taught in a TET classroom. The curriculum design is based on a four-
step learning model, SIPA.

More on Teacher Effectiveness Training...

Other Methods
There are many other discipline methods out there. Some teachers may find that they do best by
combining several methods together. Every teacher is different and go with what works for you.
Following are other methods:
 P.R.I.D.E. (Personal Responsibility in Daily Effort)
 Adlerian Approaches
 Student Team Learning (STL)
 Tribes Learning Communities - Focuses on creating a positive classroom environment to
improve behavior.

Golden Rules About Classroom Management

1. Ensure that you have clearly stated rules and procedures with established consequences that
are expected and reviewed regularly. All students must know the rules, routines and
expectations.
2. Never continue on with instruction when the rules are being broken - pause, delay and ensure
that you have your student's attention.
3. Catch your students using appropriate behavior and praise them!
4. Use behavior contracts when necessary and follow up with appropriate incentives.
5. Be sure that your instructional periods are NOT too long, students need to be mobile
throughout the day.
6. Provide individual , personal cueing and prompts to certain students as needed. Sometimes
just touching a student's shoulder will bring them back to task.
 7. POST the important rules - keep it short, no more than 6 and refer to it often. These should be
posted after the class has brainstormed them.
8. Make sure you are teaching to all the various learning styles your students have. A students
who is not being reached is more likely to be a problem.
Consistent approaches to classroom management will work, effective classroom management takes
time and should be seriously implemented at the beginning of the year. Show your students respect at
all times, students who think they're not liked will become your biggest behavior issue. For tips on
dealing with specific behaviors (aggression, tattling etc.) try the tips here.

Children with ADHD present unique problems. These students have short attention spans and need to
be in motion. There is a great article by Harlan Brownlee [Archive] that offers tips for managing them
in the art room. It offers suggestions to control movement so that chaos doesn't ensue.

Teacher Ideas
A reward system is also important for good discipline. You can use "Mona Bucks" to give to students.
These can either be used as certificates or traded in for prizes at the end of the semester/year.

From Lisa
"We came up with a "peace box" in which students refer other students who are representing best
practices of the problem solving steps. These students would be announced on a certain day. When
students get positive referrals they receive a panther buck, a positive note or call home, and a get to
be part of a group picture that is hung on the wall. This website was suggested to give us some ideas
on where we want to go with our problem solving steps. We are also thinking about lessons that we
used in our Second Step Program that helps teach social skills.

The following discipline ideas have been posted on the art education list group:
"I give "quiet lotion". Just a small squirt of lotion to remind them to be quiet (they can smell it to
"remind" them to be quiet) really works! Kids just say no thanks if they don't want it. Suave in the big
bottles is what I use sandalwood/cinnamon rocks. I also erase one of three smiley faces on the board
for noise control..." - Ali

"I found that if I started with the expectation that the kids needed to get quiet before we started as
well [as] quiet before I left (5 minutes each) the students were responsive. I would have an activity to
begin with, such as looking at a work of art, a "silent game" where "winners" could get their supplies
first (and thus get the "best" supplies -- sharpest crayons, best choice of paper color, coolest
instrument... or just get the chance to start sooner, which is rewarding in itself!). I would have clean-
up about 5-10 minutes before the end (depending on media) and then another "silent game"... such
as turn lights off, put heads down, and surprise their teacher by being still and silent, acting like we
don't exist." - Becky Hopkins

"...To transition students, we gather in meeting area-children called over by table as soon as they are
quiet - for discussion/demonstration-then when done, tell class that quiet "ready" children get their
paint or clay/supplies first-everyone wants to get going, so this works-Second idea I do in classes with
teachers who need strict order upon return is to carry a little booklet of stickers; after clean up
children who are quiet and ready at their desks get one-this seems to work well too." - Georgia in
Boston

From Jenny: Several suggestions regarding classroom management

Have everything in order before the students arrive, down to the smallest details.
- Think very carefully about where you want each student to sit. If you have tables, make sure the
dominate students sit facing you and are spread around the class.
- Keep changing their seats every class until you find a composition that works for you and don't just
change the students you are having a tough time with - change them all. Put a post it with the
student's name on it on the table so they know where to go and have a chart in your had so you can
show them where to go.
- Meet the class at your door and do not let them in until everyone has arrived and they are all calm.
Smile and make sure you say hi to each student before they enter.
- Have a short, detailed drawing activity for them to start the moment they sit down. I usually give
them a handout as they enter the class and provide a sharp pencil for them so they can start drawing.
The most successful handouts are the how to draw... animal, car, football player... that show several
steps. I usually find them on the internet.
- While they are drawing walk around and make several positive comments.
- Introduce the activity of the day before all the students have completed the short drawing activity.
Don't wait until they are all done and talking.
- Transitions are usually the most difficult times. Have all your materials organized and ready to go.
The less the students move around the class, the better. As you gain better control of the class, you
can allow for more flexibility.
- Have one on one conversations with the students in the hall away from the rest of the class.
- Find a strength in each one of your students and tell them when they are doing something well.
Don't make stuff up and go over board. Every part of a work of art has a strength. Point to the partial
area and tell the student how great it is and why you think so.
- Stay calm.
- Find projects that students will be proud of when they are done. Pick challenging ones, that you
break down the steps so that they do not get overwhelmed.
- Get to know the individuals in your class. Ask them questions about their time outside of school.

Frequent Restroom Pass Solution Idea

[Note: an art teacher can substitute something just as bulky as a tuba cases in the following idea. A
sculpture is one idea.] "Some students have real issues and need the bathroom frequently, but some
take advantage of the bathroom. Being a music teacher I have figured out how to curb the bathroom
situation. I USE AN OLD TUBA CASE!!! The case is approximately 20 lbs, bulky, beat up, and I tied a
"Bandroom HALL PASS" on the handle so there was NO confusion! Trust me, the bathroom breaks
have gone down A LOT!!!! They know that if they ask to use the bathroom that I will direct them to
the Tuba case. If they leave it somewhere, hide it, or ditch it completely I give them a detention for
"not following classroom rules". I got this idea from an AG teacher from my old high school. He would
chain a big tire to a hall pass and let the students leave. I remember NOT wanting to haul that thing
around... so when it came to my class, if they REALLY want to go... They can :) (evil clark)." - Brian

Classroom Expectations
Submitted by: Mark Decker
Classroom Expectations

Be Respectful:
Every student has the right to a safe and secure classroom; you do not have the right to impede or
jeopardize that in any way. Be respectful of yourself, your environment, your fellow classmates, and
your teacher. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

Be Responsible:
The Oxford Dictionary defines responsible in this way: "Liable to be called into account. 2 morally
accountable for one’s action, capable of rational conduct." Act rationally; choose wisely. Recognize
your own role in building a fun and productive community of learners. Understand there will be
consequences, both good and bad, for your actions.
 Be Safe:
Think about where you are and whom you are with. We must guarantee against harm or injury to
another. Think. Ask yourself is it worth it? Would I want this done to me? I will not tolerate, nor
should you, any behavior that takes away from the safety of this classroom, nor will the school.

Be Cooperative:
Time and again you will be asked to do something that you may not like or think is worthless. Be
mature; work through it. You may find that "getting there" is half the fun. Our world demands that
you work well with others. Think—choose wisely.

Be A Worker:
Do your job! Challenge yourself to be productive. You are here; use your time wisely.

Be Peaceful:
Here again, The Oxford Dictionary defines peace as: "Freedom from disorder. 2a quiet; tranquility, b
serenity. 3 a mental calm." Simply put, be kind to each other—exercise self-control.

On a separate sheet of paper, briefly comment on these 6 expectations.

Do they match your own? If so, how and if not, why not? What are your expectations for yourself and
this class? 50 pts.

Ways to Reduce Stress

Teaching can be stressful because classroom management doesn't come easy. Even the
best teacher will have students who act out in class. Following is a list of methods to reduce
stress as suggested by other art teachers.
1. Go to bed on time... and if that doesn't work - just go to bed sometime. Every night before
bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
2. Get up on time so you can start the day un-rushed.
3. Say "No" to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your
mental health.
4. Delegate tasks to capable others.
5. Simplify and unclutter your life... Just when were you planning to get to all of those piles on
your desk anyways?
6. Get organized so everything has its place... Now we are back to those piles on your desk...
7. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places... It is finding the extra time that is the hard
part...
8. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard
things all together.
9. Take one day at a time... If it doesn't get done one day - maybe it wasn't supposed to get
done?
10. Separate worries from concerns. If you can't do anything about a situation... forget it.
11. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of
trouble. Talk less and listen more.
12. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
13. Get enough exercise and eat right. Chocolate is not a major food group. Swimming is a
wonderful stress reducer. Take a leisurely walk in a relaxing atmosphere.
14. Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all. Laugh - then laugh some more. Look for
humor and laugh out loud every day.
 15. Slow down - Every day, find time to be alone. Plan to use at least 20 minutes a day to pamper
yourself. Soak in a hot tub with bubble bath or scented oils. Get a soothing massage.
16. For those trying to do it all... Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the
universe.
17. Get together with a friend and talk about what's bothering you.
18. Find an opportunity to take a 10 to 15 minute nap.
19. Listen to some favorite music while relaxing.
20. Take some deep breaths for stress elimination.
Have any more ideas to submit? Click on the "Submit a File" link at the top of the page.