Brandy Elliott
Discipline Paper
An effective discipline plan is very important in a classroom. I tend to look at it from a classroom management perspective. I feel as though if the class is managed well then there will be fewer discipline problems. Having no discipline problems would be the ideal classroom and not at all a reality. Therefore I have come up with a discipline plan. My discipline plan consists of many different theories combined to make my own plan.
It is important for kids to know what is right and what is wrong. They need to take responsibility for their actions. This is something that needs to be taught from the very beginning and it needs to be a lifelong skill. The following is a quote by Bill Rogers;
“I've seen over and over again what a feat it can be to take 25 or more students of mixed ability, background, and temperament and build a cooperative, rights-respecting group. Certain kinds of student behavior — common to every classroom but maddening nonetheless — make that task even more challenging. But I've discovered that even the most difficult classroom personalities respond to positive discipline that balances rights and responsibilities.” (“http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/classmgmt/trickypersons.htm)
Rogers feels as though there are five “tricky” personalities and they are: the chatterbox, the clinger, the boycotter, the debater, and the sulkers. I agree with the five personalities. I think that in my classroom the most common misbehavior will be talking. I feel like I need to be ready and prepared to deal with these behaviors along with other types. In my future I hope to be a teacher for grades K-3; so my discipline paper is going to focus on those primary grades. My personal belief is that children between the ages of four and eight don’t have the ability to be rational and use words to express feelings. Any kind of misbehavior can occur if the student is happy, sad, angry, excited, etc. (http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/classmgmt/trickypersons.htm)
Teaching students how to use words to express themselves is very important. When a student knows how to talk and to use his/her words then the communication level in the classroom is very high. I feel as though a class with great communication will run smoothly and if there are a little bit of bumps along the way then as a class we will be able to fix the problem. Part of my open communication policy is that a student can come to me and express their feelings, ideas, and curiosities at anytime. If there is a time when we can’t talk then there will be a comment box on the table in the back of the room that they can write any comment on a piece of paper and I will read the comments and address them at the appropriate time. If the comment is something that should be discussed with the class then there will be a time at the end of the day where the students can address their opinions and for those who aren’t comfortable I can read their comments anonymously. The students’ comments can be anything about class or outside of class. I just want the students to feel like they have a say in the way things are in the classroom. I feel as though it isn’t my classroom, but it is our classroom. Classroom meetings are something that I plan to implement into the classroom. I think that the students should have a say in how they will be taught. For example: “Today we are going to begin a lesson about the ocean. I would like for you to get into groups of four and discuss some activities that you would like to do to help you learn about the ocean.” That is an example of a lead teacher. This is an idea from William Glasser. He believed in an engaging classroom where students are able to have a say in matters concerning them. Glasser also believes that we should take responsibility for our own actions like I have discussed previously. (C.M. Charles, Pg. 75)
Positive reinforcement is also a big issue. I feel as though children should be rewarded for doing things that aren’t asked of them. I want the students to take initiative and perform actions because they know it is the right thing to do in their hearts and in their minds. When that happens I would like to reward the students. I want to do this by having two stone jars. One jar will be filled with stones and the other will have a ribbon on the side saying something about having a “Super Attitude.” When the stones are transferred from one jar to the other then the students will get a reward. The purpose is for the students to do good deeds without them knowing that the teacher is watching. I want them to treat each other and themselves with respect. (Concept from cooperating teacher in Indianapolis)
I understand that at times children get caught up in the moment and make bad choices. I feel that it is the teacher’s responsibility to remind the students of the rules. After the reminder I would expect the students to make better choices. If better choices aren’t made then there will be consequences. The method would be that each student in the class will have a number, and the numbers will be up on the wall. There will be five different colored cards and they will be posted on the wall also. A Green card is good, purple is a warning, and yellow is five minutes out of recess, orange is a note home to parents or guardian, and then red is a meeting with the principal and parents. The students will get their card flipped if there is call for it. The students will be informed of what the colors mean and what the consequences are if they get that certain color. My only true rule would be that students respect themselves, fellow students, and teachers. If at the end of the day they are still on green then a sticker will be put on their sticker chart and sent home in the daily folder. (http://aolsvc.aol.myschoolonline.com/page/0,1871,11989-117382-15-45941,00.html)
The daily folder will contain homework that is to be done for the next day, books that the student may need to read, a daily news letter, and a comment sheet for the teacher and the parents. On the comment sheet there will be a sticker spot for the day. If the child is still on green then there will be a sticker and if the student is on a different color then the spot will be colored with that color so that the parents know what color their child finished the day with. If the student is on any color than green a note will be written in the comment space to inform the parent of the situation that resulted in the card flip. I want to establish an open communication with the parents and I think that the daily folder is the best way to accomplish that.
I am very excited about having my own classroom, but I am also very nervous about having a working discipline plan. I think that it is very important to have a class that is managed well. An engaging classroom is the best way to decrease behavioral problems. I feel as though my discipline plan is very strong and well thought out. I have implemented many different strategies by using the flip chart, the stone jar, and the sticker chart. All of these things in motion should make for a great learning environment.
Hello Everyone!
We have just begun a brand new school year! This is a very exciting time in your young child’s life where his/her world is broadened into new concepts and tons of learning. It is my responsibility as a teacher to help maximize my students’ learning. In order to do that we must have a discipline plan or as I like to call it, a classroom management plan. I want there to be an open communication policy between myself, students, and you as parents. In order to do this I have implemented a daily folder. In the daily folder we will write down a note of the events that have occurred throughout the day. Also in this folder the students will have any important paperwork or homework. There will be a place in the folder for the teacher and parents to write comments back and forth to each other. I would like to start off by explaining some of my methods. I believe that an engaging classroom where students have fun learning is a classroom with fewer behavioral problems. It is my duty as a teacher to develop an engaging environment.
Even though things maybe engaging I still need to be prepared for behavioral problems and therefore I have a system where each student will receive a number and all of the numbers will be placed on the wall in pockets. All of the students will start the day off on green which means GOOD! There will be four other colors each of them having a different consequence. Purple is a warning, and yellow is five minutes out of recess, orange is a note home to parents or guardian, and then red is a meeting with the principal and parents. When a student does something that warrants a card flip then I will go to the wall and flip their card. If at the end of the day a student’s card is still on green then that child will get a sticker in their folder. J If by chance the student’s card is flipped then I will write a comment as to the situation that caused the card to be flipped. Students should have a part in the way they are taught and their opinion is very important to me. I hope to engage my students and to maximize their learning experience. With your help and cooperation this year will be wonderful.
Sincerely,
Ms. Elliott