M4m5a1-Apply Class Rules and Procedures-McNeese
Applying classroom rules and procedures is a delicate balance of positive reinforcement when students are following the rules and procedures of the class and creating consequences when students are not behaving as expected. Positive reinforcement is a strategic tool that can be used to create a class climate that runs smooth and a class that encourages learning for all students. Consequences should not be associated only with poor behavior. Consequences are the result of both good and not so good behavior. When students behave according to the class rules they may be rewarded with something they like or something that motivates them and misbehaving has a consequence a student may not like very much. But when and how should consequences be applied in the class?
Positive reinforcement will start with being choosy about which rules and procedures are most important to the success of the classroom (Raffaelli, 2014). Rules should be limited and it helps to let students provide input when deciding the class rules and procedures (Marzano, 2015). Besides limiting the number of rules, a teacher should also choose his/her battles wisely (Raffaelli, 2014). Limit battles to misbehavior that has to be handled and handled immediately. This doesn’t mean the teacher doesn’t discipline except for really poor behavior, what this means is that the teacher should choose when to correct and go through lower level disciplinary action to asking the student out of the room or involving other staff.
In addition, I will do all I can to help my students and myself save face offering students the opportunity to diffuse the situation themselves. Being sarcastic or demeaning does nothing to create a positive classroom environment. The teacher needs to keep calm and relaxed in the classroom. Knowing when and how to use consequences will be aided if we can put ourselves in the shoes of our students (Raffaelli, 2014). If possible teachers can ignore misbehavior, not giving energy or time to poor behavior. But if a teacher cannot ignore the behavior she should start the intervention using: close proximity, a look, whispered correction, etc. Ultimately a teacher may need to remove the student by having the student step outside or sending the student for an office-referral, involving parents, creating a behavior contract, assigning a student to detention, or other strategies.
Parents will be a key part of monitoring and controlling student behavior. Parents can be involved in the education of their students by accepting invites that let them sign in to LMS systems or behavior management systems where their students are enrolled. Class Dojo, a classroom behavior management system, allows a teacher to monitor student behavior, award both negative and positive points, and the program allows parents to monitor student points and behavior.
The main thing I will do to curb misbehavior in the classroom is to have high expectations for my students. I will also challenge my students which should limit behavior problems. In addition, I will break tasks into bite size chunks so large tasks will not seem so daunting and students can get intermediate satisfaction from completing tasks as they go.
When I do have to discipline a student who is not responding to the more surface disciplinary tools, I will need to separate the student from the classroom. The student can be asked to step outside and wait for the teacher to discuss the student behavior or if the teacher is busy the student can be sent and/or escorted to an area to wait (the office, another teacher’s classroom, the dean’s office, etc.). Finally, and most important, being humble for a teacher is important. Teachers should be able to apologize just like they would require of their student and admit when we’ve made a mistake.
References
Marzano, R. (2015). The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org: http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/107001.aspx
Raffaelli, L. (2014, August 20). the Dos and Don’t of Classroom Management: Your 25 Best Tips. Edutopia. Retrieved January 2, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/discussion/dos-and-donts-classroom-management-your-25-best-tips
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