Creating a Discipline Plan
Tips for Developing and Implementing a Behavior Management Plan
Develop a Plan for Behavior Management
In preparation for the first day of school, new teachers should take the time to develop a formal plan for discipline. Many college programs require this, so you might only have to do some tweaking if you feel good about your current plan. A new teacher may be asked by school administrators to submit a written plan for discipline and a copy should also be included in the substitute folder.
When you design your own behavior management plan, take a few moments to answer the following questions:
- What role should teachers play in the learning process?
- What role should students play in the learning process?
- Are extrinsic rewards such as candy and toys good motivators for children?
- Should children be required to sit quietly at their desks for most of the day?
- Should children be allowed to collaborate with their peers on a daily basis?
- Does the research support discipline systems that focus on what children are doing wrong such as the type that involve moving cards, clips, or other objects when a child acts out? What alternatives are available?
- How does a positive classroom environment enhance student learning?
- Which teachers had a positive impact on you as a student and why?
As you consider your answers, think about classrooms that you‘ve visited and what “worked“ and what didn‘t. Revisit books and articles you read during college. One book I was introduced to at the University of Florida and recommend often is Teaching Children to Care by Ruth Sydney Charney. Pull from several resources to design a well thought out discipline plan with which you are comfortable. Try not to focus on just getting the children to do what is asked of them; focus on the type of learning environment you’re hoping to create for your students. Your plan and how you implement it is going to have a big impact on your relationship with your students and their parents.
Ask Students to Help Write Classroom Rules
The following is a list of the classroom rules or expectations my class and I wrote together during a brainstorming session on the first day of school:
- Treat others with kindness and respect.
- Keep your hands, feet, and other objects to yourselves.
- Remember to do your classroom job each day.
- Listen carefully during lessons.
- Take care of your classroom and your school.
- Never give up! Always do your best.
Having the children help me develop the rules on the first day gave them a sense of ownership which meant they were more willing to cooperate. This brainstorming session is geared towards older children but can be modified to work in primary classrooms as well.
Be Proactive Rather than Reactive
As a college student, I rejected punitive discipline plans, so I was happy to hear about “Lunch Bunch” during my student teaching experience. I implemented it in that fourth grade class and continued to use it successfully when I had my own classroom. My students sat in groups of four and were encouraged to work in teams. Each team tried to earn points by being prepared, staying on task, and treating each other with respect. When I saw children making good choices, I gave points to those teams. At the end of the week, the team(s) with the most points got to eat lunch with me on the playground. The points from that week were then erased, giving each team a fresh start. The focus in my classroom was on who is doing what right rather than the other way around. I believed in creating a positive learning environment for my students and found that, while this was sometimes more difficult than being punitive, the higher level of student engagement was well worth the effort. The positive feedback from students and parents was wonderful too!
While the “Lunch Bunch” method was effective, there were certainly individual students who needed more guidance in the area of discipline. When one of my students acted out, I met with him or her privately rather than shaming them in front of their peers. During this behavior conference, I had a private discussion with the child, asking questions like, "How can I help you make the right choice?" and "Is there something I can do to help you succeed in this class?" Some one-on-one time with the child would usually result in us working together to identify the underlying problem and come up with a solution. These are just a couple of examples of how teachers can create a positive learning environment for their students by being proactive rather than reactive.
Be a Reflective Teacher
During my first year, I fine-tuned my original plan based on experience and a better understanding of my students. As a new teacher, you will also need to make a few changes, and this is okay! While you want to be consistent, you also need to be flexible if what you’re doing isn’t working well. Most importantly, remember that using a constructivist (or learner-centered) approach to teaching will reduce the number of behavior problems in your classroom. When you increase the level of student engagement (the children’s investment in lessons and activities), behavior problems will naturally decrease. Be a reflective teacher when your students misbehave, asking yourself what you can do to help them be successful and whether or not their individual needs are being met. Reflecting on your own teaching and striving to improve is something effective educators do on a daily basis.
Finally, remember that your behavior management plan is just as important as the lesson plans you’ll develop for reading, writing, and math. Even most dedicated teacher simply cannot be effective if he or she is lacking in the area of classroom management.
Bonus Tip: Frequent communication with parents is an important part of behavior management. Contact parents on a regular basis via phone calls, newsletters, and conferences.
Want more tips for developing classroom management skills? Check out Effective Classroom Management by Suite 101's Feature Writer for this topic, Dorit Sasson.
