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Maintaining Classroom Discipline

Helping students to govern their own behavior in ways that help them learn is a long-standing goal of all teachers. There are a number of ways in which a teacher can promote good discipline in the classroom.

• Know school guidelines for discipline procedures.
  
  
• Be fair, positive and consistent. Be the kind of person young people can like and trust: firm, fair, friendly, courteous, enthusiastic and confident. Try to keep your sense of humor.
  
  
• Provide a list of standards and consequences to parents and students. Make sure they are consistent with district and building policy. When in doubt, ask a colleague or your principal.
  
  
• Keep your classroom orderly. Maintain a cheerful and attractive classroom rather than a disorderly one that might encourage disruptive behavior.
  
  
• Get to know your students. Learn their names quickly and use them in and out of class. You will soon develop a sixth sense for anticipating trouble before it begins, but don't act as though you expect trouble. If you do, you will almost certainly encounter some. Learn the meaning of terms, especially slang used by students.
  
  
• Begin class on time and in a businesslike manner.
  
  
• Make learning fun, interesting and relevant to the students' lives. Poor planning and a full curriculum can provoke disruptions. Praise good work, good responses and good behavior.
  
  
• Don't threaten or use sarcasm. Never use threats to enforce discipline. Never humiliate a student. Avoid arguing with students. Discussions about class work are invaluable, but arguments can become emotional encounters.
  
  
• Let the students know you care. Determine jointly with the class what is acceptable in terms of behavior and achievement and what is not. Show interest in what students say, whether or not it pertains directly to the lesson.
  
  
• Treat students with the same respect you expect from them. Be mobile, walking around the room as students work or respond to instruction.
  
  
• Keep your voice at a normal level. If "disaster" strikes and you trip over the wastebasket, don't be afraid to laugh at yourself.