How to Deal with Discipline Problems More Effectively

 

On teacher forums and discussion groups, I often read posts containing pleas from teachers on how they can engage a group of students, a particular student or an entire class.

When students aren’t listening, it’s usually because  of one main thing: they are not engaged with the setup of the classroom and how the lesson is structured.

 

Thanks to your responses on the last survey, it is clear to see that many new teachers are looking for strategies on how they can engage students as part of an effective classroom management plan.

As you may already realized, when students don’t understand the rules and procedures in your classroom, they could be already on their way to taking control in the classroom. And you know what that means, right?

As a new teacher, you’ll want to set up three simple systems in your classroom that help with the task of effectively engaging your students. Plan on reinforcing these simple systems consistently all throughout the year. Simple systems help your students become more self-directed.They know how your classroom is run and feel safe with a sense of a routine. Simply put, your students know in their hearts that they can succeed and won’t challenge your authority because they WON’T need to.

Here are three basic systems which you should implement from the first day of school:

• Set up your expectations for success in the classroom so students always know exactly what to do.This goes for every task, rule and procedure.
• Set up a system of rules and procedures. Teach and reinforce those rules and procedures that are most crucial for running your lesson effectively. Ideally, you should have three or four rules and a variety of procedures for running your classroom effectively.
• Cater to a variety of learning styles and abilities. Using differentiated instruction, teachers cater to a wide variety of varied interests, cultural backgrounds and world knowledge which results in more dynamic classroom interaction. In a differentiated learning environment, students feel safe because they know they will learn something in your lesson. 

 Keeping students engaged for an entire lesson IS possible. With simple systems, you can help your student succeed.

To learn more about how to implement simple systems, click here to find out about my new ebook on “Succeeding with the Discipline Issue.”

New Teachers Tips: Don’t Always Teach on the Fast Track

I like to compare teaching to auto-racing.

Ever notice how teachers are constantly on the fast track and never have time to slow down... even in the teacher's lounge?

It is this fast paced mentality that often brings us away from our students.

Students need to feel a sense of belonging in your class. Don't let their misbehavior get to you.

Behind every student, there is a person that you don't know who "has potential."

But you'll never really get to find it if you teach on the fast side.

Trying working on a slower side for a while.

Slower paced teachers value student-teacher relationships and do their best to nurture them as much as possible as a means to successfully engage students and subsequently help raise academic performance.

But how is it possible for a new teacher to do this successfully with all the additional pressure of classroom management and lesson planning?

The key to doing this successfully is to something to organize the class with an attitude that shows you mean business, but also affirms a human side to your personality.

So before the bell rings, stand by the door and greet your students.

Or introduce your lesson with more personal statements like: "I can see so many blank faces, does this mean we didn't do our homework?"

Walk about the room and express something reaffirming to your students.

If you start to have discipline problems, use those situations as difficult as they may be, to build a stronger connection; don't report the discipline problem right away. Always present the situation as a choice: "You can do X or Y, but yet I see you chose to come to class and do your homework. So what's wrong?"

You won't be able to win 100% of your students, but you'll have engaged them so much more. You'll be amazed how a little attention getter can go a long way and how engaged your students will soon be.

Try it! You CAN take control of the classroom. All it takes is persistence and an open mind.

Need a workshop on Succeeding with Mixed Ability Classes? Spaces are filling up quickly. Click here to find out more signup details and how you can take control in the classroom.

Tips on Adapting Textbook Activities to Help Students Succeed!

Like other classroom tasks, adapting textbook activities to suit “tiering” can solve problems of motivation, students becoming bored, students needing a challenge, etc.

This post will provide you with the tips you need to get started in order to “tier” the core activities of your textbook WITHOUT having to make up additional activities. To receive your FREE differentiated learning charts, please email me at sasson92 at gmail.com dot com.

So what exactly is "tiering"?
You may have already come across tiering in your reading. An easy practical application of tiering is providing enough input so that all students CAN work with the same key learning goals but at different “degrees of difficulty”. In an ideal differentiated classroom situation, each student is working at a level of challenge appropriate to his/her readiness needs. In a differentiated classroom, teachers can tier assignments, projects, learning centers, homework, and even assessments.

(taken from Carol Ann Tomlinson, An Educator’s Guide to Differentiating Instruction. Houghton Mifflin, 2006)

As a new teacher you want to aim to engage ALL students in your class. A natural starting point is the textbook. However, not all textbooks cater to tiering. And, it is often the middle group that is most often ignored.

This is where YOU come in as a teacher.

So what can you do?

Use the planning template below to help get you started. You can also receive FREE planning charts via email. My ebook Succeeding with Mixed Ability Classes shows how a differentiated classroom works and what you as a new teacher, need to do in order to continually engage your students. Spaces are also filling up quickly for my workshops on Succeeding with Mixed Ability Classes. Find out here if there is a workshop located in your area.

Name and level of textbook: __________________________
Grade and level of students: ______________________

Procedure:

1.Open your textbooks to a unit/page your class is currently working on.

2.Write down the skill(s) the activity reinforces: (Examples: finding the main idea, working with phonics)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Now look at the level: What level does the activity specifically cater for? (lower performing, middle, strong) What level(s) is/are not accounted for?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. In pairs or groups (according to similar grades/levels/abilities), try and come up with 1-2 activities for each level/skill. You can email me for a chart I prepared to help organize your information.

5. Now expand on the content part of your activity (#4) and organize HOW and WHEN students will be engaged. (Examples: pair work, group work, individualization) Again, please email me at sasson92 at gmail dot com and I will send you your FREE differentiated learning charts.

If you have any questions or comments, you can use the comment box or email me your questions and I will try to provide quick and timely answers.

And don't forget... You CAN take control in the classroom. Try it today!