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Behavior
Management
Comprehensive classroom
management is the key to becoming a successful teacher and managing
behavior is a large piece of the puzzle. Behavior management takes
planning, implementation, and maintenance. Maintaining behavior
in the classroom can be tricky at times but with a little creativity
behavior can be managed in a fun, thoughtful way. I hope that
you find these positive interventions useful in your own classrooms.
Classroom Rules
The
first step in maintaining a classroom of positive learners is to
display your classroom rules and subsequent consequences in a place
that is easily seen by students, parents, and visitors in your
classroom. It is also important to refer to them often.
When a student breaks a rule, have them identify the rule they broke
and address what they can do to prevent the infraction in the future.
Be firm and consistent with
rules and consequences. It is always easier to relax your
control than to try and regain it. Setting boundaries is
critical to to the success of the classroom climate. Be fair, be firm,
but above all else be consistent.
Consequences
There are times when a student simply has
a difficult time following classroom rules and continues to break
them. In times like these, a teacher can provide the student
with a quiet time out, remove the student from a classroom activity,
take away time from recess, or issue a reflective writing
assignment. It is important that the child be able to understand
what he did wrong and what he can do to correct the behavior. Prescribing
meaningless tasks such as writing lines NEVER works. Teaching students
to be accountable for their actions is the key to a more positive
learning environment.
Reflective Writing assignments
work well for children above 1st grade. The Reflective Writing
Assignment was designed for my second grade students at the beginning
of last year and have proved to be very effective. Each essay is designed to provide the student
with time for
reflection and an opportunity to regain self-control and take responsibility
for their actions. Once completed, the essay is signed by the
student and then sent home for parent signatures. This has
really helped to provide a sense of order in the
classroom.
Positive
Discipline
Another technique that teachers can
use for classroom management is to identify expectations for positive behaviors
rather than rules that shouldn't be broken. Instead of "no
hitting, kicking, or pushing" the rule might read "be kind
with your words and actions". When good behaviors are
exhibited, be quick to give praise and reinforcement. Positive
discipline truly puts a positive spin on expectations for conduct in
the classroom.
Give
Praise Often
Give praise often. Praise
students for positive behaviors. Be specific. Tell the
student what it is they are doing that pleases you. This will
not only reinforce positive behavior for the student receiving the
praise but also motivates other students to follow her
example.
Positive
Corrections
When addressing a negative behavior
use positive phrases that motivate students to take responsibility for
making wise choices. Use phrases such as "I really need
your help" or "I know that you are an intelligent person,
but you have made a poor choice, so I need for you
to..." For example: when a student becomes talkative
during seat work, simply walk over to the student and whisper to them
in a soft voice "I really need your help". Of course
the student becomes very attentive at this point and will make eye
contact with you. Now the student is focused on you and you may
continue with a phrase such as "It is very distractive to your
fellow classmates when you continue to talk during seat work. I
need for you to concentrate on your work so that you can help your
classmates to focus on their work". This approach usually
does the trick. Positive discipline puts the responsibility of
accountability back on the student and empowers them to make the
appropriate choices.
Managing Classroom
Behavior
Primary
students need to visually keep track of their conduct so
that they can take responsibility for their actions and manage their
own conduct. The On-Task Board is a powerful tool in
behavior management. As the student breaks a rule they gradually
move their name or number from the On-Task board to the Off-Task
board.
The theme for behavior management in my classroom is
"Fishing For Good Behavior". I use a fish embellished
On-Task board. The Off-Task board is marked with consequences
(warning, first offense, second offense, third offense, office visit). Each time the student breaks a rule they must
move their fish further down the Off-Task board and each time a new
consequence applies. Please visit my classroom
rules and consequences
web page for additional information.
Routines and
Procedures
It is important to establish routines and
procedures in the classroom. Students need to know what is
expected of them and routines need to be consistent in order for
students to achieve success in complying with them. In the
beginning it is important to model your expectations for how routines
are to be performed. For example, when students enter the
classroom, identify for them what they are expected to do, enter quietly and unpack their
belongings. One of the best ways to make sure that students
understand how to follow through with the routine is to model first
the incorrect way to enter the room. Allow children to discuss
what is wrong with the scenario. You will be surprised by their suggestions
for how to correct the behavior. Next, model the correct way to
enter the classroom. Young students will remember more about
what it is they are to do if they have a visual image of the correct
procedure.
Some routines and
procedures that you need to establish include the following:
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Entering
the Classroom |
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Walking in
the Hall |
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Exiting
the Classroom |
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Restroom
Breaks |
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Morning
Procedures |
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Lining Up |
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Dismissal
Procedures |
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Playground
Procedures |
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Turning in
Homework |
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Cafeteria
Procedures |
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Turning in
Classwork |
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Media
Center Procedures |
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Retrieving
Materials |
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Classroom
Library Procedures |
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Sharpening
Pencils |
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Learning
Center Procedures |
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Using the
Computers |
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Small
Group Procedures |
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