Behavior Management Means Preventing Problems Before They Start:
Intelligently-planned and strategically-implemented classroom rules will make your teaching job easier from Day One. By taking into account your personality and anticipating any problems that might crop up, you can maximize your chances for an orderly and learning-centered elementary classroom.Strategize, Get Inspired, and Write Your Rules:
Long before your shiny new students file into the classroom, you need to spend time planning and organizing your discipline strategies and class rules.- Consider your Educational Philosophy and how it can be expressed through your rules.
- Gather sample rules that have worked for other teachers and use them as guiding examples. Relatedly, read The Essential 55 by Ron Clark for inspiration.
- Be aware of the top Teaching Mistakes To Avoid. Then avoid them.
Organize Your Classroom:
You've finalized your rules and visualized how you want to run your classroom. Now get ready and set for the arrival of your students.- Ask yourself this question: Do I believe in giving material rewards and prizes for learning and good behavior? Perhaps no-cost rewards would be as effective with less maintenance. Head to the store if necessary.
- Physically organize your classroom to support your plan. This step should include posting your rules in plain sight, putting together any tools (such as a card system) that will correspond to your plan, and creating an upbeat, organized feel to your classroom.
Communicate Your Discipline Plan To Students:
The rubber really hits the road on the first day of school when you introduce the rules to your new students and begin enforcing your behavioral vision.
- Read Harry K. Wong's The First Days of School to get in the right mindset.
- Classroom Meetings offer a chance to reinforce your discipline plan and make minor (and possibly major) adjustments to get back into alignment with your original vision.
- Save your vocal chords and implement nonverbal ways to quiet your students.
Getting Parental Support and Cooperation:
- Communicate with parents proactively from the start. On the first day of school, send home a copy of your detailed rules. Include a small cut-off section at the bottom for parents and their child to sign and return to school, indicating their agreement to the rules. It's a good idea to offer an incentive to the students for returning the forms so that you can maximize your chances of getting them back. Save the signed agreements in case there are any problems later on.
- The best way I've found to communicate with parents is through weekly newsletters that also offer time to practice language arts skills.
Enforcement And Long-Term Issues:
A disciplined classroom requires daily maintenance and monthly reflection. Don't be afraid to proactively address problem areas as soon as they're apparent.- Consistency is key. Children have an almost primal sense of teachers playing favorites or letting little infractions slide. Be nearly robotic in your approach and deliberate with all your actions.
- Unfortunately, even the best-designed discipline plans are not one-size-fits-all. Solve larger discipline problems with behavior contracts.
- Some school years are more challenging than others. Consider creating a fresh start in extreme situations.
"Don't Smile Until Christmas":
In summary, be deliberate and consistent with your classroom rules and their enforcement. It is better to start off strict in the beginning and, if you like, you can loosen up as the year goes on and the students' good habits are already in place.With proper planning and the right outlook, you can look forward to an organized and productive school year with your students. The feeling of accomplishment will make all of the effort worth it.
