DISCIPLINE
Each school may have a specific discipline plan for their teachers to follow. Students usually know the plan, steps, and consequences. Some can push until they reach the last step before the office. NO MATTER WHAT PLAN YOU USE..
1. Teach the plan
2. Practice the plan - Model the plan
3. Be fair and consistent
4. Follow through with the consequence
Students need guidelines. However, they must buy into the plan and have ownership. Students can work together and make the classroom rules as a group. I don't believe in rewarding, rewarding, rewarding for the slightest effort. They need to feel they have really earned something. The goal is to make this reward system intrinsic. They need to overcome the "gold star addiction" (Avery). Too much becomes meaningless.. too little begs for attention. You have to find the balance.
SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCIPLINE PLANS:
1. KNOTS ON A ROPE -Each student has a rope (based on the story, Knots on a Counting Rope). For infractions, they make a knot on the rope or a circle dot sticker is wrapped on the rope. Specify the number of knots and their consequences.
2. STICKS - Each student receives a specified number of sticks (I use five). They write their names on the sticks. Use library pockets and glue the pockets, one for each student, on poster board. Write their names on the pockets. If they lose a stick, place the sticks in the pocket with their name.
3. STICKER PADS/BOOKS- At the beginning of the year each student receives a sticker book. I use construction paper that is laminated and folded, "hamburger style". Inside the book, a new sticker page is placed each month. Students gain stickers when they are caught following rules, being good, the class gets a compliment, etc. I prefer the positive reinforcement rather than the negative.
4. MARBLE JAR- Since my theme is around Winnie the Pooh, I use a jar decorated as the honey jar. A cookie jar works well, also. Marbles are used to fill the jar for positive behavior as a class. This helps build community and focuses on positive behaviors. When the class is following directions, listening, gets a compliment, etc they get a specified number of marbles. For example, if a teacher comments about their quiet line they get two marbles, everyone listened during circle time, one marble. When the honey jar is full, then there is a reward. I base the rewards on a month-to-month basis based on themes.
RESOURCES:
There are many excellent resources on the market addressing discipline. These are just a few.
1. Discipline for Home and School, Book One, Ford, Edward. 1997. Brandt Publishing. Scottsdale, AZ.
2. Dr. Becky Bailey - Conscious Discipline and "I Love you Rituals".
3. Harry Wong - First Days of School
4. The Responsive Classroom - http://www.responsiveclassroom.org
LINKS TO OTHER DISCIPLINE
AND CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SITES
http://www.positiveparenting.com/jane4.html
http://www.persweb.direct.ca/ikhan/elementary/classman.html
http://www.proteacher.com/030000.shtml
http://wayne.k12.ny.us/character_education/Default.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/ks/teachme/classmanagement.html
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