Many first year teachers struggle with student discipline. By answering the following questions, recognize the behavior strategies used by your cooperating teacher that work or do not work in the classroom.
How are expectations for behavior, routines, and learning explained? What are the guidelines for classroom behavior? How is appropriate behavior encouraged? How does the teacher react to inappropriate behavior? What techniques both verbal and nonverbal are used to cue appropriate behavior? What strategies does the teacher use to prevent problems?
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In the classroom I am in, behavior is very important. However, my teacher is not a first year teacher, more like 10 year teacher, so she knows the drill and how to deal with ugly situations. In her classroom, there are a list of rules written. Good Listening, Walking Feet, mouth zipped, gentle hands. THese students are ages 3-5 and there are only 4 students in a classroom. This is easy for them because they need to be paying attention at all times. Appropriate behavior is encouraged y reciting these rules every morning in the classroom and in the discovery room (where all the students come together to learn and have fun). When they walk in the discovery room they sing a song that goes, " if your listening but your bottom on your name, if your listening, put your bottom on your name, crisscross apple sauce, hands in your lap, zip." That always works. Some techniques that are used are by grabbing their arm when they are not listening and get right in their face, this is appropriate because these students are deaf and some still don't understand the rules. Raising your voice pretty loud at the students is negative because they will just get scarred and more angry at a particular teacher. I think talking to a student one on one about their bad behavior is the best, but I also think that other students should hear the teacher get mad at a student because then they will know that they should not do the same behavior. In the lunch period, they have students from the grad school of Wash U come to help and the students were just not listening. The rules of the classroom were not helping but they handled it very well. They sang the song crisscross applesauce. Some students listened and some didn't. So the helpers had to go run around and grab the students and put them on their name. Many of them got time out for 5 minutes and didn't get to go to recess. Many of the teachers do this. My teacher had a group for speech and kids were crying because they were upset and tired so before she let any of them in her classroom, she asked each on individually if they were going to be happy, not cry, etc. And it worked!
ReplyDeleteI am observing a sixth grade class at a Luthern school. The school has a list of rules and consequences everyone is to abide by. The students are warned on thier first offense, get lunch detention on thier second, after school detention on thier third, and suspended on thier fourth. My teacher displays the school rules on a bulletin board in the classroom. Since I am at a private school the students actually help keep each other in line and encourage good behavior by telling each other things such as, "that is not christian like to act like that." My teacher also has a system where she asks the kids at the end of every day who they saw act kindly or perform a good deed. If a student recieves 3 or more good comments they are allowed to put thier name on a chart. On Tues. the teacher draws names off of the chart and the kids get to pick out a candy bar. When a student is out of line, my teacher takes them aside individually and talks to them, and the most common punishment is lunch detention. Overall, the students have behaved very well, so I have not seen the teacher discipline very often.
ReplyDeleteKaitlynn,
ReplyDeleteI like how your teacher has the kids recite the rules by singing that little song everyday. Children learn best through songs and games. By reinforcing the rules to them on a daily basis it should help with thier behavior because then they deffinitely know the rules.
In the class I am observing the teacher uses stick method to scold the students for bad behavior. If they act out and she has to tell them to stop more than once the student is simply asked to go get a stick, first a yellow then a red, and each day they start over with yellow and red, but the sticks arent removed until the end of the week. If you do not get a stick all week they are rewarded.
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteI am supprised that your students scold each other for unchristian-like behavior. I am at a private Catholic school and the students misbehave way more than I expected and they dont seem to enjoy the religious aspect, but its good that your students do.
In the kindergarten classroom I observed, rules and guidelines were EVERYWEHRE. You could find expectations on posters, on the board, listening to the songs they sang, etc. I liked the main rule my host teacher had written on the board-- "I talk. You listen. You talk. I listen. I do. You help. You do. I help." The students followed this rule very well also! If they acted up or interupted, for example, she would say, "what's that written up on the board?" & she would then ask if the student thought he or she was following the rule very well. They also sang songs about putting their names on their paper. The song reminded them where the name went, that they should write neatly and most importantly, that their name should be the first thing they write on their paper. My host teacher made sure to sing the song every single time she handed out a paper or worksheet-the class had it down pat. My host teacher would pull students aside if necessary or she would simply ask "do you think that's a good thing for you to be doing?" My host teacher has been at this school since my mom student taught with her, so she is pretty good at letting the student know if their behavior is inappropriate just by giving them a look.
ReplyDeleteJaclyn,
ReplyDeleteI also observed at a Catholic, private school and I thought the total opposite! I was pleasantly suprised at how well mannered the students were and how nicely they accepted the other students, etc. They did not necessarily scold the other students' behavior, like Emily's students did, but they would all get along very well.
I am sure the expectations for behavior, routines, and learning was explained at the beginning of the year, so I do not know what was told to the students. If a child acted up the teacher would take a ticket from them. These tickets are used for an ice cream party every two weeks and students who have all thier tickets get ice cream. If a child is acting up the teacher asks them kindly to do what is expected. If the child keeps acting up the teacher takes the ticket. When a child acts up the teacher will not make a ig deal about it and is calm with the student. The teacher would use a hand motion for the student to sit down or pay attention. Most of the time she would say the child's name and tell them what she expected. To prevent problems the teacher would address the situation before it got out of hand.
ReplyDeleteJaclyn,
ReplyDeleteI remember this method being used in my elementary class in 2nd grade. I do not remember the rewards, but I do not think it was very effective in the classroom, because some students just did not care.
In the class that I observed in circle time they have a rule listen or leave. So either the children listen to the lesson or their friends or the leave to sit in a blue chair. I think the children are vey well behaved to be four and five year olds. I think it take time in a classroom to get a class to behave the way they should it helps getting to know the kids and letting them know what is expected of them in the begiining. I think listening to them also and asking them whats wrong helps also let them know that you care whats wrong with them and express themselves.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
ReplyDeleteI think rewards are always good for good behavior but I think you always need a back up plan because you may always have a student who is tired of the rewards or just dont care. I guess maybe rewards should be switched up.
the teacher i observe for likes to start a conversation and then get his students involved in the conversations. the routine is the big thing i think if there is a routine then the kids will be easier to settle down.
ReplyDeleteRebecca,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I think that good behavior should be rewarded espically at the younger ages. I like the idea of rewards for doing things right and the better behaved the class is the happier the teacher is.
In the classroom I am observing, there are rules posted on the walls. The rules are obviously basic things such as raise your hand, and stay in your seat. Each morning, however, the principle comes on the intercom for morning announcements and together the entire school recites the school motto and pledge. The motto is a big part of keeping the kids in order because they memorize it. Keep Hands Feet And All Other Objects To Yourself (KHFAOOTY). The class also sings a song each time they are preparing to leave the classroom, that has to do with being quiet in the hallways. There is one student in the class that has behavior issues, but has never offically been diagnosed with any sort of disability. This student is required to carry a clipboard with a sheet that has every activity the students do everyday. For each activity that he is not disruptive, he get a sticker. And each week that he misses less than three stickers he gets rewarded. This gives him an incentive to be on his best behavior. Overall, the students are very well behaved and follow the rules.
ReplyDeleteDerald,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about routine. Espeically for first grade, which is what I am observing. Without the same routine daily I think they would have a much more difficult time staying on task, and doing what they are supposed to do. I'm sure it is the same way with the class you are observing.
In the kindergarten class room a punishment that is used often is taking away recess time or centers. Another punishment the teacher uses is when they are playing a math game they have to sit in their seats instead of sitting any where in the room. The punishments in the kindergarten class room are not that harsh because kids are still trying to please the teacher at the age. Some guidelines uses in the class is reading the rules for conversation every morning with the morning message the teacher rights. This is helpful because it reminds the students the proper way to talk with one another and with the whole class. The teacher reacts to the inappropriate behavior by correcting it without causing a seen. If that doesn't work she will address the whole class and ask them what the rules are for what they are doing. After they tell her the right way they should be doing it, they usually straighten up.
ReplyDeleteIn the 4th grade class i'm observing the students are old enough to know what the rules are. But, of course there are always the few that like to push the rules. My host teacher really doesn;t punish the studnets unless it is a last resort. She prefers to handle everything with humor. Which is a nice change. She beleives that if you stay clam and you don't give the students a reaction (which that is what they want) you make a joke out of the problem. Not in way that the student feels they are being made fun of but, in a way that lightens the mood and that student acting out gets a positive reaction and everyone may get a laugh. Not all problems can be handled like this. But, for the most part all the students are well behaved.
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteThe class you're observing sounds like they have a very organized routine that works well with the students and especially the student with the clip board. I remember the khfaooty motto we use to use it my school but it didn't stick for long, but we were much older middle school age.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI like the way your school does the announcemnets. That's a good way to help the students to remember the rules. Plus that the principle is doing it with them I sure helps out. It's like a constince reminder of what is expected of them.
In the preschool classroom I observed, the teacher set rules at the beginning of the year. She taught them to the children, and if they don't respect them she is always here to repeat them and make sure the children are understanding. The mains rules were: be quiet and listen when someone is talking ; do not hurt anyone, your hands are for yourself! ; be quiet walking in the hallway; etc. When the rules are not respected, the teacher takes the child concerned apart to talk to him/her, or if it's a general problem she tells the children that if they don't stop they won't get any recess. But whatever the situation is, she always stays very calm, and talks quietly. She told me that once only, she had to send a chil to the principale office because she didn't know what to do with him anymore!
ReplyDeleteTiffany, I think it is a good idea to repeat the rules every morning. Because the childern are still young they need to here things again and again to really assimilate them.
ReplyDeleteAshley, I agree with your teacher that staying calm is always the best way to resolve a problem!
In the classroom I am observing, the teacher is not very good with disciplining bad behavior. There are a few students in each class that act out and like to get everyone's attention. Instead of telling these kids to be quiet or do their work, the teacher just completely ignores them and lets them do what they want. This makes me feel awkward because I wish I could tell the kids that they are not learning anything by having that behavior. The teacher tends to talk to the more well-mannered children more. There are several things that I would do differently than this teacher.
ReplyDeleteElise,
ReplyDeleteThe teacher you are observing sounds like a very good one. I think it is important to be discplined, but stay calm so you still gain the students' trust. As long as the kids still listen to her and obey the rules, then there is no reason for her to raise her voice or be too stern with them.
Emily,
ReplyDeleteReading your comment made me respect your teacher. I like the fact that your teacher makes it a reward for good behavior and the class is involved in it. I also really do like the fact that the teacher talks to the individual student in private instead of in front of the whole class. I had few teachers in school that would work their classroom in such a way. At times I wish they would have for the sake of the student and other students embarrassment.
I don't observe only one teacher. On my days I go in for hours, I usually sit in two classes each class with a different teacher. One teacher handles the students well while the other seems to let them walk all over him. I am not if the reason he lets his students walk all over him is because he is retiring at this year and he just doesn't care or if he has always controlled his room in the manor he does. In both room guidelines are understood and so are the behaviors expected, the only issuse is that the students just don't seem to care if they get in trouble. My host will talk to students in the room but while the others students are talking and working on homework, he talks in a low voice so others don't hear. I have only heard him once talk to a student because the boy was sitting in front of table I sit at. My host teacher shows concern for how his students are doing, and if they drop in their performance what is causing it if anything other than them not caring anymore. One day in class the host teacher left and the aide stayed in the room helping students out and keeping them controled. She used more nonverbal cues to the students, one group was making fun of a boy who seems to be disabled in some way and she turned and just glared them down which made them shut up for the rest of the time. One way my host teacher has prevented problems in the classroom is sending a group to lab to work on the assignment after notes are taken, he usually sends all the girls out so the boys are not distracted and keeps the boys in the room with him knowing that if he sent them to the lab they would goof off and not work.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher that I am observing has been teaching there for 25 years. The students really respect him, and some are kind of scared of him because he is so serious. The teacher explained to the students the rules and what is to be suspected at the beginning of the year. The teacher's reaction to inappropriate behavior is he will just glare at them until they are completely quiet. I think is a great strategy because the student will eventually stop talking, and other students will tell the talkative student to be quiet.
ReplyDeleteAshley Orlando,
ReplyDeleteI think its a great idea to discipline the students with humor. I agree that not all problems can be handle this way, but its nice to change it up a bit. I believe that the silent treatment works really well too, in some situations.
Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI disagree with what the teacher who is retiring is doing. This means that the teacher who had these students next year might be treated the same way. Discipline in a school needs to be consistant. Now the students are going to have to get baack on track with the proper bahavior.
I am observing a 4th grade class. At the times i observe, the students come back in from lunch and recess and they switch for Social Studies/Science. So I also get to see the behavior of another class. At the school I am observing in the higher grades of 4th and 5th. Students who meet certain expectations get a lanyard they get to wear around their neck, these students also get special privliages they get to line up and leave the room before the non-lanyards do. The lanyards disperse themselves among the tables at lunch as role modles to those that dont have lanyards. At Central, every student would love to wear a lanyard, so this helps prompt good behavior.
ReplyDeleteThese two topics of questions are very closely related to the previous week so as i stated before All three of the groups i am observing have respect for the teacher and she for them but the most impressive element of all for me is when the students are getting to rambunctious the teacher says:
ReplyDeleteTeacher: Eyes!
class: On you
Teacher: Ears!
class: Listening
Teaching: Minds
class: focused
As far as getting rewarded for simply paying attention and not requiring the teacher to even go through the device above as Courtney mentioned the reward for music students especially the jazz group is that the sound great together and eventually go to contest and compete. Its not much but as musicians it is a great accomplishment for us!
I am in a classroom with fourth graders. I have to be honest, they are the most well behaved fourth graders that i have ever seen. However, they are still kids and every now and then they will get loud and misbehave. The teacher is very sweet with them but when she needs to be strict she is. Whenever they misbehave she would only raise her voice a little more and they will get the hint. When they dont she calls them up and asks them if they know why they are being called up. I really admire her for gaining these kids respect, I really hope that my students respect and obey my rules. She does very often remind them how important respect is and all the values you can think of, so shes like on top of it even before it happens.
ReplyDeleteRyan you just reminded me of what my teachers used to do with us when i was in 10th grade. My class would be very loud all the time and my math teacher would always say the same thing. The only thing is that the class would not answer back, so she would.
ReplyDelete