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How to Improve Classroom Discipline

by Mervin Hempel

130 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-1218; ISBN 1-4120-0850-6; US$16.00, C$17.95, EUR13.00, £9.00

Do you wish that teaching your students would be easier, organized, and more enjoyable? Improve your discipline with these up-to-date strategies found in the action checklist - 111 ways!

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts      catalogue info

About the Book Do you wish that teaching the children in your classroom would be easier, organized and more enjoyable? If your answer is yes, then read on. Help is on the way for you! It's so easy to choose one or more of the strategies in this book and plug them into your existing classroom management plan. LEARN SIMPLY & EASILY * How to teach children to solve their own problems. * How to quieten a noisy class. * How to help students assess and modify their own behavior. * How to motivate your students with the money game. It's fun! * How to use praise to get cooperation. * How to improve student / teacher relationships. * How to control stress. * How to report and document discipline problems as they occur. * How to use the 10 step conferencing strategy to change behavior. * How to protect the socially rejected child. * How to use the behavior modification tracking sheet. * How to be consistent so your discipline plan works. There are many more great classroom and whole school strategies to make your teaching more enjoyable.

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About the Author Mervin Hempel is a retired school teacher and guidance counselor who lives with his wife Judy in Victoria on Vancouver Island, on the west coast of Canada. They have two grown children. Born in eastern Canada, Mervin has travelled extensively and has taught, tutored, and counselled in urban and suburban neighbourhoods in various schools in Canada and Australia. He was educated at the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. He has been 49 years old for the past nine years because he likes that age. Hiking the coastline around the southern part of the Island, cycling the trails, and walking his dog are three of his favorite outdoor activities. He also reads, writes and spends way too much time on the computer playing chess with his buddies from around the world.

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Sample Excerpts

Introduction One of the top priorities facing schools today is solving discipline problems. This is an obvious fact to those of us involved in education. Schools cannot move forward in an efficient and productive manner without the essential element of good discipline.

Teacher morale has taken a beating because of the effects of classroom discipline problems. Stress, burnout and a change in professions are some of the results of those problems. Student academic performance suffers which has a diminishing effect on human potential.

The primary audience for this book are teachers and school personnel at the elementary and junior high levels. Its purpose is to help teachers encourage appropriate behavior in children in order to improve their performance, in both the academic and behavioral areas. It assumes that if students are behaving appropriately in the classroom and are on task, then they will learn more no matter what educational techniques or methodologies are used.

The suggestions found in this book are a combination of traditional approaches and ideas as fresh as freshly squeezed orange juice. They attempt to help develop an atmosphere in which each individual's rights are respected; and at the same time these ideas encourage the belief that without individuals showing responsibility, there can be no rights.

This book can be used in at least two different ways. First as a reference guide. For example, use it if you are faced with a specific discipline problem as shown by a student who is exhibiting loud disrespectful behavior in class. As we read the various ideas we will be stimulated into thinking of a solution which uniquely fits the immediate problem situation.

Second, trying different approaches can help us refine our teaching styles, adjust to differing student reactions and to discover which techniques work best for us. Better yet, let's hope that How to Improve Classroom Discipline prompts you to discover fresh and original ideas!

This book is organized as a collection of one hundred and eleven tried and tested ideas for handling all kinds of everyday classroom problems and for encouraging student selfcontrol. This action checklist allows you to quickly skim through the techniques and decide which ones to use. The ideas are easy to plug into your existing classroom management style.

It is not expected that every reader will approve of and accept all of the suggestions offered here. What works for one teacher may not work for another. However, if the reader gleans just two or three ideas that will lead toward better classroom management, then writing the book has been well worth the effort.
Contents

1 General Interventions
2 Controlling Loudness
3 Leaving the Classroom
4 Positive/Negative Consequences
5 Keeping Students on Task
6 Improving Student-Teacher Relationships
7 Student Self Assessment Program
8 Overcoming Negative Attitudes
9 Student Contracts
10 Problem Solving Techniques/Mediation
11 Disrespect/Defiance
12 Setting Down the Rules
13 Reducing Stress
14 Whole School Techniques
15 Attitude is Everything
16 Reproducible Pages

Maintain self-control and self-discipline in regards to the rest of society and the world. In later life, many difficult situations will arise. If a state of self-discipline has not been attained, individuals will not be able to cope with many of life's problems. Reasonable punishment with these intentions as an objective is justified.

Be in Control of Yourself

Teaching can be an enjoyable profession. First, you must be in control of your emotions and then in control of your students. Be aware of your emotional state. At the first sign of losing control of yourself in any situation stop what you are doing and do some self-talk. Talk yourself into a more relaxed state of mind and think of a better way to handle the situation. If possible, leave the situation for now and deal with it at some later time. Stabilize the situation first for now.

Don't Use "Try To"

Don't say to a student you want him to try to behave himself or finish his assignments. Trying isn't good enough. It gives him an out. He can say that he tried just like you asked him to. Tell him to do it, not just try to. Don't give him an out!

Create a Reputation Outside Your Classroom

To help you establish a pleasant classroom with a learning atmosphere, cultivate the right reputation outside your classroom. Before students even meet a particular teacher personally for the first time, they "know" that teacher, or at least they think they do. Part of your task should be to create a "reputation" or image outside the classroom. As a teacher, you are always in contact with students outside the classroom: on the stairways and in the hallways. Your way of interacting in these settings will tell students what kind of a person you are, and what they can expect of you.

Be an "UP" Person

Always give the appearance of being sure of yourself. Look as though you're aware of everything around you. Notice faces when you walk the halls, even if you are in a rush. Look about you and not at the floor. Have that energetic look about you. Have good posture. Show those around you that you are glad to be in the school. Keep your bad days to yourself. Be an "up" person!

Take Ten Minutes To Relax

Find ten minutes during the school day and go to a quiet place and relax. Get a small tape player and listen to a relaxation tape or just think relaxing thoughts. Do this at least once a day and you will be greatly refreshed. Responding To Problems Emotionally Saps Energy Wait a few seconds before responding to a problem situation. This reduces tension and helps you to respond in a non-emotional way. This can teach the students to do likewise.

Yelling Doesn't Work!

Yelling at your students for an extended period of time will drain you of your energy. Loud talking also raises blood pressure. You must find other means of getting your students cooperation. There are many ideas in this manual that will help you out.

Enjoy Your Evenings

Spend two or three evenings a week doing the things you enjoy. Get away from your job and thoughts of it. Indulge yourself in a pleasurable hobby.

Outside Recess Detention

Select an area in the playground against the school where students can be placed to serve a recess suspension. Students must stay within the boundaries of this area. Adults on supervision need to be made aware of any student placed in suspension in this fashion. Other students may not step within this area. Detention could be for any length of time deemed necessary. Students could be told that their time in suspension could be reduced with good behavior. Place a clipboard on the wall just inside the outside door with the student's name on a sheet, so that teachers on duty are aware of who is on "the sheet".

Frank Sinatra Club

Here's a technique that will encourage students not to earn their way back into the suspension room and it's lots of fun! Secure one of Frank Sinatra's music tapes and play it while the suspension room is occupied with a student or students. Frankie will make their stay a rather unpleasant one. Some may even grow to like his rather uncool music. Make up a poster to place on a bulletin board for the students to see. Your poster might include these words. Hi! My name is Frank Sinatra. I hope you enjoy my singing! If you don't, then next time make a more responsible choice. Right choice = (you can draw a happy face on the poster next to right choice). Wrong choice - more of Frankie's favorites. It's your choice!!!

Make an extra copy or two as these tapes have been known to disappear. Tape the original onto a ninety minute tape so that you don't have to turn the tape over so often. For a change of pace try a tape of Wilf Carter, Stomping Tom Connors, or Tiny Tim!

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Catalogue Information

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