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Discipline in the classroomClassroom management is a huge field of professional learning that is very important for successful teaching and learning. Not only does effective classroom management enhance student development, engagement and learning, it also enhances teacher job satisfaction (Williams 2010, p.7). I chose to focus on this topic for my research article as it encompasses all areas of teaching and it has been the area of teaching that I have found most difficult during my student teaching. A well managed classroom is one that provides an environment that maximises students and teacher involvement in meaningful, enjoyable, challenging but attainable learning activities. There are certain management skills that a teacher must possess in order to achieve a well managed classroom; these include organisational skills, maintaining a positive learning environment and having effective behaviour management strategies. There are a range of different behaviour management strategies for the classroom ranging from Canter?s Assertive Discipline where teachers set clear expectations, rules and consequences for behaviour to Linda Albert?s Cooperative discipline where student are encouraged to take responsibility of their own behaviours and make the right choices (Charles 1999, p.123). It is extremely important to establish a supportive and nurturing classroom environment by employing strategies that reinforce appropriate behaviors, rather than simply punishing inappropriate behaviors. In my teaching placements I try to encourage students to take responsibility for their own behavior in order to maintain positive relationships and interactions within the classroom. I employ a cognitive behaviorist approach to behavior management where the aim is to support students to control their own thinking so that they can understand what they are doing and judge whether that behavior is appropriate or not. As teachers, we should be preparing our students for the ?real world? by encouraging them to take responsibility for their own behavior and help them to become self-governing citizens. I believe this is a positive approach to behavior management because it seeks to alter problem behavior before it occurs, rather than punish it once it has occurred. Behaviour management is only one part of classroom management. Ensuring that routines and procedures are in place help make sure that the hectic classroom day runs smoothly. These need to be set at the beginning of the year, discussed with the students and enforced each day. Classroom rules and routines set the tone of how you want the class to run and informs the students what is expected of them. In TEFL classrooms where the teacher may be encountering different classes each day, rules still need to be established so that the students are aware of what is expected of them, e.g. ?Come to class prepared?. Discuss what each rule means, e.g. ?Make sure you bring your course book, pencil case and notebook to each english class?. It is also important to show the students that you care and provide them with a positive, safe and welcoming classroom environment to learn in. Establishing a positive classroom climate can be achieved by decorating the room with posters, pictures, reading aids and so on. This is especially important in TEFL classrooms where students require a lot of visual information to aid them with their comprehension of material. Students also need to feel a sense of belonging in the classroom; this can be achieved by using students? names, greeting them as they enter the classroom and allowing them to contribute to class rules. As teachers, we need to remember that we are role models to the students we teach, hence we should display the behaviours that we want emulated. One quote that resonates in me was spoken by educator, Linda Albert: ?Students won?t always remember what we teach them, but they will never forget how we treat them? (Charles 1999, p.125). The way we speak to our students can have a huge impact on their confidence and respect for themselves and for us as teachers. Reference List 1. Charles, C. (1999), Building Classroom Discipline, 6th edn, Addison Wesley Longman Inc., New York City. 2. Williams, D. (2010), Background Basics, ?Managing the Learning Environment?, University of South Australia, 2010.
