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 observe in the rules are posted on the way. The teacher has relatively high but reachable expectations in his classroom. They usually stick to their routine pretty well except when they occasionally run out of time due to the students asking questions. Appropriate behavior is encouraged quite well by the teacher. If he sees the student doing something wrong or that they probably shouldn’t be he just gives them the look or he asks them to stop. He teaches 5th grade so he can kind of voice his opinion a little more than with the younger grades. Sometimes he will point out what the student is doing, ask if they should be doing that, and sometimes he will ask the whole class if that person is doing something wrong. This might sound a little mean but the class that I am in is very tight knit and close with each other so they don’t get to embarrassed when that happens.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher has reasonable expectations for the four years olds. The guidelines for classroom behavior are very simple always be respectful, and the basic stuff. Approiate behavior is always encouraged because the teacher will always explain to the students that if they are good they will be rewarded by having extra recess time, stickers, or even extra nap time. The teacher reacts very well in inapproiate behavior. If a student doesn't raise his/her hand she will kind of ignore him/her at first. Then she explain to the student the importance of raising their hand and being respectful. The teacher uses all different types of strategies to prevent prolbems, and they do work because in the end the kids would always behave correctly.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher is kind of all over the place with her standards for the class. To her, I think a lot depends on the dynamics of the class and what she thinks is an appropriate standard for that particular group, and even that said, her expectations differ from day to day. One day, she will make a scene and take someone's phone away and she will take it away and make a big scene about it and express that she will take it away no matter what. and the next day she will simply ask them to put it away. I think she has favorites in her class... and she treats them accordingly too. I think it's easy enough for students to understand what is appropriate and not appropriate in her classroom, but it just depends on what class you're in and what kind of day it is.
ReplyDeleteTo Danielle,
ReplyDeleteHaha, I had a 5th grade class like that. I think that fifth graders are a little too mature though to be humiliated like that. That's just my personal opinion and maybe it works well for the class and the class learns from it (which is what is important).
The teacher I observed was really good at making sure her students were aware of when they were aloud to talk and when they were not. She was always quick to warn them when they got out of control that they would lose recess time. When they would have carpet time she always thanked those students who raised their hand, and when they would get too loud she would say "my voice is on now and it is the only one I should hear." They would all get really quiet. She would also let them know when they were aloud to "blurt" answers after a question. She is really good about treating all the students equally whether it is good or bad.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Chelsea,
ReplyDeleteI like the way your teacher give extra nap time or recess, I would think for four year olds, those are the two most important things for them. I also like how she teaches them about raising their hands, little kids like to do that just to do it sometimes.
Im observing is a high school PE teacher, he gives the students a handout of the rules at the beginning of each semester. There is also a copy of the rules posted in the gym. I havent witnessed any rule breaking yet so I dont know how he will deal with it.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Danielle.. The way your teacher deals with behavior issues seems to me like the best way to do so. It is probably an great learning experience for you.
ReplyDeleteI am observing an Elementary PE teacher. Like most gyms there are a set a rules in the gym. For example...WALK to your exercise spot. When kids would run they would have to walk all the way back to the door and walk to their spot and at the end of the class period they would have to be last in line. Being as young as them, being last in line was a bad thing. The teacher was strict towards them but at the same time they got to do what they wanted as long as they followed the simple rules. Also, i heard verbally my teacher tell a student that he was getting his CARD pulled to yellow when he got back to his classroom. I have to admit it made me smile because I remember being that age and that was the worst thing possible. I think my teacher handle everything really well.
ReplyDelete@ Darron Bardot
ReplyDeleteThere was a list of rules in the gym I was observing too. I bet, observing Highschool to Elementary is totally different. Why did you chose Highschool? Any specific reasons...
:)
Im just about to be starting my practicum but this is one area that I will definitely need to pay attention to. I work in the public schools with latchkey so dealing with behavior is a task we very frequently have infront of us. As a girl I think its easier for students to think they can get away with more than with a male teacher. Im excited to see how teachers work with all different types of behavior in the classroom and with individual students.
ReplyDeleteto Dana,
ReplyDeleteI think even though teachers may have favorites; those who participate in class and get good grades, rules should be the same for every student. I think its understandable that some days it is easier to warn a student rather than deal with the mess of taking their phone away, but I believe its about what message your sending to your students. Varying your rules day to day I think is difficult for students to understnad no matter how old they are.
My teacher makes it known that respect is the number one thing. If the students respect her, she can respect them. The teacher speaks calmly but firm towards the girls and if they are misbehaving, she will either say something to them, or she will stop talking until she gets their attention to make them stop. And when all else fails, she will take certain privelages away. In some ways this is effective, but others, it isn't how I would handle certain situations.
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteI think being polite and Thanking the students is really important! Being gentle but firm will get further thatn yelling all the time. If you yell, the students will stop caring and tune the teacher out.
I've only observed my teacher once so I'm not really sure of how she handles students who act up. She has the rules posted in her classroom about where to put things back and what the students need to bring to class everyday.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher that I am observing teaches high school freshmen and senior english. He lets the students know his rules at the very beginning of the semester. If people are acting out of line he will usually make a stern comment and at that point everyone shuts up. I have had him as a teacher and a coach in high school and I personally have seen that he treats the students with respect but at the same time requires the same respect in return. If he has to raise his voice and talk in a very upset manner then you have royaly screwed up because it takes a lot to upset him.
ReplyDeletein response to Chelsey Martin
ReplyDeleteI really love how your teacher shows her kids the importance of being respectful. Its something that their going to have to use for years afterwords I think its good that their being taught that so young.
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you that there needs to be a level of respect between the student and the teacher. You dont want to give the students so much that they feel they can get away with anything, but at the same time when the teacher needs their attention he doesnt have to scream or anything like that to get their attention.
I'm observing a 7th grade classroom. My teaccher is patient with the kids but yet has rules that need to be followed in his classroom. If its too loud in the classroom then he counts down from 5 and when he gets to 0 they all have to stop talking and whoever doesn't stop has to stay 15 seconds after class. He will give the kids a warning if they need it, and if he hast to tell them again then he gives them a closed lunch...one where they have to eat alone with him over their lunch breeak. He also warns them saying he'll call parents if necessary. He is really good at getting along with the kids and being patient and fair. Sometimes it gets pretty loud in there, but I think that's where I'm learning to be more patient and understanding as my teacher is. There is definetly a need for discipline in the classroom..especially in middle school.
ReplyDeleteAt Trevor...
ReplyDeleteI agree thats good that he gives respect and wants it back in return...and that he has patience. I had a techer like that once...you knew you really ticked him off when he raised his voice.
I just finished my practicum. I was observing in 7th and 8th grade math classrooms, and while I was expecting more problems in the seventh grade classroom as there were a lot more boys in that class, it was actually the 8th grade classroom where I got to observe how the teacher handled his difficult students. The students clearly knew how they were supposed to behave, because when they got called out for misbehaving they didn't disagree with it. The students had three chances before they actually had to face the consequences of their actions. Once they had used all three chances, they were awarded a 0 or an 8th hour. At one point, the teacher had to make one group of students change seats because they weren't getting their work done sitting together. Those students will not be sitting together for the rest of the year. I could tell that the students really liked their teacher and that they wanted to behave for him, but they also didn't want to do much of anything that would get them in trouble. I got the very definite feeling that they knew that their teacher would follow through and assign some form of punishment.
ReplyDeleteWhen the kids behaved, took turns, and actually did what they were asked, the teacher thanked them and was a much happier teacher. It was very obvious that the teachers mood was affected one way or another however slightly by the kids behavior.
In response to Dana Porter
ReplyDeleteI think it's sad that the teacher you're observing plays favorites. I think that actually discourages the kids the teacher doesn't like from doing their best because they don't feel that their teacher is as interested in them or as confident in their success.
That sort of thing could be devastating in younger classrooms. If the teacher doesn't believe in them, they're not going to believe in themselves.
The teacher I'm observing goes over what she expects of the class, and has posters and other reminders around the room explaining the behavior she expects out of them.
ReplyDeleteShe tells them at the beginning of class what is planned for that class day.
She also reinforces her expectations with a look or some form of punishment.
She expects each student to treat others as they would want to be treated. Name calling, put downs, and any other negative words or behavior is not tolerated, and the child is quickly corrected.
She encourages appropriate behavior with compliments and small rewards, such as stickers.
If a child acts inappropriately, she will usually say their name sternly, give them a look and sometimes a warning. If the child continues to be disruptive, she will take them out of the activity and have them sit by themselves.
The teacher is very good at preventing issues within the classroom. She hasn't had many problems since I've been there, but she's very encouraging to the students who do behave and continuously comments or compliments a student who does especially well.
In response to Trevor Schloessman..
ReplyDeleteIt's very good to hear that your teacher is both patient and expects respect from his students.
I also think it's great that he respects each of them. I have had several teachers that don't respect us, and also those whom the students don't respect and walk all over.
It's nice to hear he has a good balance.
to Kayla Eddy.. I choose high school because my high school O-line coach is the teacher and High school is what I would like to teach. I didnt know that he would somewhat black mail me into helping him with two track meets. Why did you choose to observe elementary?
ReplyDeleteI've been observing a 6th grade English class, and my teacher must have been very disciplined with laying down the rules earlier in the year because the kids are on the whole really great. If one of them starts misbehaving in some way, all she really has to do most of the time is say their name and the whole class will get quiet. She is very soft-spoken so they really have to listen to hear what she's going to say. She will point out that the kid should not be doing whatever he/she were doing, and then they almost always apologize and do as she asks them to. The few times where the kids do not behave she will take their "conduct card" and make a mark on it - which they hate. I suppose part of their willingness to listen so well is that she keeps her rules simple and is fairly laid-back and fun.
ReplyDeleteTo Melanie Rottger -
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really interesting the different techniques that your teacher used to enforce discipline. It's great that he is able to have set "punishments" for when they misbehave, but I thought having a "closed lunch" was a little unusual - I haven't heard of a teacher using that as a means of discplining a child before. I wonder if it's very effective. . .?
The teacher that I am observing is very good about keeping bahvioral expectations the same from day to day. The two fifth grade classes are also very good about keeping the same rules and regulations for both classes, so one teacher doesn't have easier rules. The teacher requires her students to be respectful at all time towards other students and herself. She does not show any favortism towards students that is visible to me, which i think is very important in being a good teacher. We have actually talked about her disciplinary actions and how she handles it. Different students have different needs and may act up more than others, and certain ways to handle situations sometimes depends on the student's personality. She does a very good job treating every situation fairly and accordingly to the wrong action.
ReplyDeleteMelanie,
ReplyDeleteThe teacher you are observing sounds like he is probably a very cool teacher to have. He has patience which is necessary, but also lets the students know when they are acting innappropriately. I would really enjoy to see how he handles his class on a daily basis.
For the teacher I am observing, behavior really is not an issue. For the most part all of the student know what is expected. So far in my observing there has been one instance where talking became an issue. The choir was listening to their performance (with comments from judges) from a contest they were in. Several students started talking and not paying attention. When the song was over. The teacher made a comment to everyone about how they should be listening and then there were no more problems.
ReplyDelete@ Sarah Tegarden- I think its really good that she doesn't show any favoritism. I think teachers really do have their favorite students.. but it is good that she doesn't show it to the whole class.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher often reminds her students about class room rules. She has them posted on the wall when ever she needs to refer back to them. She has three rules that I cant remember off the top of my head,but one was about coming to class prepared. One student came in with nothing and just sat as his seat. The teacher helped him a little re-enforced the rule and he began his assignment. My teacher always models good behavior for her students. last class she went over all class room expectations it sort of became a lesson because the students were way off task that day. She had to deal with a student who was being disruptive the whole class, she gave him several warning and after class she yelled at him and called home.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Katy
ReplyDeleteI am observing 6,7 and 8th graders. And they know when they are misbehaving because they do what the teachers tells them or they stop right away. My teacher usually gives three warnings before she gives them a consequence.
My cooperating teacher doesn't have to use the most sophisticated strategies or the most recent and modern techniques to gain respect and good behavior from their students. All that my cooperating teacher does is show the students the same respect that he expects to be treated with. I believe this is the proper way of dealing with students behavior. By treating them like adults. Most teenagers want to act like independent people and act like the are "grown up" so if you give them respect like an adult would receive, then those students will kindly return the favor and gain a life skill in the process.
ReplyDeleteKevin Raske
A lot of students seem to have the same response to this question with the fact that students are treated with respect in order for the teachers to receive the same respect back. If students are taught to respect elders and teachers in the younger stages of schooling. I believe it makes for a calm and collected while engaging school environment.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the year they read through a booklet of rules that is called the code of conduct. At this time the teacher also tells the students his/her particular classroom rules and such punishments
ReplyDeleteIn response to Danny Zammit...
ReplyDeleteThat is great that your teacher has that much control over the class, every teacher would love to have that much control.
I observe that my teacher takes diciplinary action in a verbal way. She often raises her voice over the class when they are being too loud. I don't know if I necessarily agree with this, but this is her way of taking control. Often times it works and the students immediatley get quiet. If someone is misbehaving the teacher often warns them that she will give them a detention if they do not settle down. This works with most of the students and they stop acting up. However, some of the students are always sent out into the hall or given detentions because they do not stop. She does have sets of rules that are laminated around the classroom that display the rules of the school and the classroom. I observed that most of the students behave in the right way and there are only a few that sometimes get out of control.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Christian Darby
ReplyDeleteI like the way your teacher takes control of the classroom and often reminds them of the class rules. I feel that my teacher should maybe remind them of the rules more often instead of just punishing them without giving a full explination of what rule they were not following. She does have the rules posted on the wall similar to your teacher but she doesn't ever refer back to them which would be a good thing to do.
I'm observing in a kindergarten classroom. I fell in love with the age group. Their teacher is amazing! Kindergarten is not what I had expected; I thought it would be a bunch of crazy 6 year olds running around & the teacher fighting for them to learn/pay attention. The kids are actually so excited to learn & talk to the teacher. The biggest issue she has is kids talking when they're not supposed to be. She just says, "Boys & girls, there should be no talking right now! Thank you (insert name of student who is quiet) for being so well behaved!" This not only makes that student happy but the rest of the class can see a distinct example of the behavior they should have. She had a "warning" system. And the children were well aware of what was going to happen if they misbehaved or didn't listen to the teacher. I have really enjoyed observing this teacher; she is great!
ReplyDeleteIn response to Danny Zammit:
ReplyDeleteI think that the teacher establishes and determines how he/she's classroom will be ran. Like your teacher, she spoke with them after if happened. The teacher I'm observing does the same thing; it's with a completely different age group however, but it's still the same ideas. Talking is the only issue she had and she addressed it and moved on. She didn't dwell on it. It was enough for the students to get the point but to also not feel like she was really disappointed and upset about it. There is a fine line between the two.
The classroom that I observed has the school rules posted on the bulletin board in the front of the room. It is a 4th grade classroom so they know them pretty well already. For example, one of the rules is when they know they need to be quiet they raise two fingers in the air and put two on their mouth to get quiet. The teacher also has her own set of rules in the classroom that the students know pretty well. When they do the right thing she will say out loud, " I see that Jake is doing the right thing, you may walk to lunch." Or just say they see them doing the right thing and they seem to enjoy that. If anyone is acting inappropriate she will squat next to them and talk to them, or she has a 'safe seat' they will have to sit in. This is in the front of the room in the corner facing no one.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Brianna:
ReplyDeleteI'm observing in a 4th grade room and my teacher will do the same kind of thing, saying their name and thanking them for doing the right thing. It is kind of amazing to realize how much the kids just like their name being said and having everyone else realize they were the one the teacher noticed.
In the classroom I observe, I think that the teacher set the rules at the beginning of the year and just remind them to the children when they do something wrong. the routines are a part of the rules and the students seem to know what is allow and what is not. If a student do something wrong the teacher just explain the rule to the child again and ask him or her to apologize if he or she hurts someone, for example.
ReplyDeleteIn the classroom, my teacher has a relaxed set of rules/guidelines. They are posted, however the students are expected to know how to behave as they are in 5 th grade. She also uses a rewards system in 3 categories: hallway, lunchroom, and classroom. Students get points and stars. Each category is separate and once the class reaches a certain number, the class is rewarded with a party. She rarely has to talk to students about behavior.
ReplyDelete@ Jessica .., I think positive reinforcement is a must in a classroom. By telling the student you like what they're doing, they are more likely to do it.
ReplyDeleteIn the classroom the teachers rules are given to the students at the beginning, the first day of the school the teacher goes through the syllabus and talk to the students and lets them know what is expected of them. The students are expected to act as young adults and follow the required rules of the school. With behavior in middle school the students are at the age where they are expected to follow the rules set by the school district and when a student breaks those rules the student is given a warningby the teacher and told what is appropriate and not appropriate acts of the student. After the student breaks another rule the student is asked to report to the principle to consult to them of the acts that the student has chosen to do. The teacher doesn't have to give too many verbal responses to the student because they know what is expected of them, the teacher simple gives them the look as to stop and check themselves or acts with be set out toward that student.
ReplyDeleteNicole manno said...
ReplyDeleteI also believe at that age when you give those students positive reinforcement they will feel a need to please the teacher or the authority. Now in my class the student like it more when the teacher treats them as adults they act in a postive manner and follow the directions more.