Teach English in Jiuyuan Gongye Yuanqu - Tianjin

Discipline in the ClassroomDiscipline in the classroom is a very sensitive and important subject that is faced to all teachers around the globe. Depending on the country or custom that you are faced with, the discipline method will vary. The question will now boil down to ? is there a method I can use universally that will not offend other people in other countries? The answer is, not really but you can certainly have an approach that is not frowned upon by many people overlooking the situation. How do I properly handle discipline in the classroom? First we start with the teacher. Before starting a lesson or even before conducting any class the teacher must bring resolve to him/herself. Make up in your mind that you will not take the disruption personal, nor will you let it upset you or ?rile you up.? Also resolve to approach the situation as an adult, and show the student where the lines of a teacher will draw. It is important that you keep yourself composed and calm, or prepare to pour fuel to the fire. Always expect to discipline your class at any time, and always be prepared. After we have made personal resolutions with how we are going to handle disciplinary situations we want to set the ground rules for the class. It is always helpful to make rules and stay firmly by the rules. Don?t exaggerate a million rules but state the most important ones. These rules can vary between what teachers may find important to themselves but it is always important to have rules in the classroom and more importantly it is crucial to enforce them. When the time of the hour comes to discipline the student, remember your resolve! Don?t take the situation personal, and don?t let the student get you also involved in the disruption. As the teacher you are the professional and the adult who is in charge of the classroom, not the classroom bully. We want to be firm when we handle students who are being disciplined but at the same time we do not want to be overbearing. When I use the word overbearing, I mean that the teacher does not negatively impact the student. This can include threats, black mail, apparent attitude change with that particular student, refusing to acknowledge the student, etc. These are all negative impacts a teacher can have on a student and this will only make the matter worse. Calmly pull the student aside and speak with them or give the student a warning that further discipline will follow if the behavior continues. If the situation persists with the student and further discipline methods needs to be used, the following approach is effective: 1. Assess the student?s behavior. Is there a cause of this behavior? Inquire with other teachers or the student directly if there is anything bothering the student outside of the classroom. 2. Is there a possible resolution to the situation? Is the student feeling frustrated and need more attention? Does the student feel as if he/she is being pressured to be disruptive, etc? 3. Address the matter as soon as possible before the problem boils over beyond the teacher?s control. This can lead to other students being discouraged, or possibly allow the other students to join in the disruption. The best thing to do is to address the matter quickly, and try to bring a compromise between the teacher and the student. Many teachers will be surprised that a lot of the sources of student?s poor behaviors are really something that can be handled by just simply talking with the student. Discipline is very important in controlling the classroom, but also it is important in helping to build a good relationship with your students. Poor discipline can reflect in a poor class for the teacher as well as a poor reflection on the teacher him/herself. Remember discipline is not only for the student, but also is a direct effect on the teacher as well. Discipline may begin with the student but it will end with the teacher.