Ben and Adam took the class through a discussion of classroom discipline: what is it important and what are some methods of it we can use in our classrooms? Some questions which I still feel as if I am not sure about include whether or not there are and/or should be differences in discipline methods based on gender. My second question I often consider is what a model student looks like? What does a massively disruptive student act like? So on with the show...I agree with them that discipline and motivation often go hand in hand--which was why they surprised me with the information that corporal punishment is still lawful in 23 states and that Arkansas and Mississippi still use in on 9.2% and 10% of students, respectively. I do not plan on using corporal punishment in my classroom! They also discussed what to do in a crisis: discourage students from milling about at that time, use student names and be authoritative, seek assistance from other personnel. I liked the idea because I remember from my own years as a student when a fight broke out between two girls and the teachers couldn't stop it because the students had created an impenetrable wall between the two of them. I also think it is important for teachers to know the school policy to ensure we are not breaking the rules as we are leaders in the school and need to be good role models for the students at all times, but especially in crisis situations.
Of the five discipline methods that my peers Ben and Adam mentioned, I would say that Discipline with Dignity and Peer Mediation spoke the most to me. Choice Theory spoke to me because it reminded me that we need to consider the goals and motivations of our students and play on those to discipline them; we need Assertive Discipline because it provides students with clear, consistent rules to adhere to and lets students understand the consequences before they act out; and I think that classroom constructed rules are a great way of making students feel involved and in control of the rules that govern their actions in the classroom and school, but it is important as a teacher to be firm with these rules or else students will not see the value in them making them themselves and will consider it a waste of time and a class filler rather than an opportunity for growth and development in the classroom. Thus my infatuation with Discipline with Dignity: students make their own rules, they understand the consequences because they helped to mold them, and the teacher (myself) is firm with the students but treats them like adults rather than little babies who need authoritative guidance. Another great aspect of this method is that I can give my students the opinion that responsibility is better than obedience: I do not want my students to be like obedient dogs, I want them to be themselves and understand what they need to do to develop and grow in my classroom. As to Peer Mediation, the reason that I tend to like this method is that it gives students the chance to be responsible for fixing their own conflict and find the issues and conflict a learning experience to develop themselves rather than an intrusion and inconvenience. I want my students to leave the classroom and year able to think for themselves and develop in the community through lifelong learning, and conflict resolution and discipline is one of the techniques for personal growth that can help them achieve that self-sufficiency.
Of the five discipline methods that my peers Ben and Adam mentioned, I would say that Discipline with Dignity and Peer Mediation spoke the most to me. Choice Theory spoke to me because it reminded me that we need to consider the goals and motivations of our students and play on those to discipline them; we need Assertive Discipline because it provides students with clear, consistent rules to adhere to and lets students understand the consequences before they act out; and I think that classroom constructed rules are a great way of making students feel involved and in control of the rules that govern their actions in the classroom and school, but it is important as a teacher to be firm with these rules or else students will not see the value in them making them themselves and will consider it a waste of time and a class filler rather than an opportunity for growth and development in the classroom. Thus my infatuation with Discipline with Dignity: students make their own rules, they understand the consequences because they helped to mold them, and the teacher (myself) is firm with the students but treats them like adults rather than little babies who need authoritative guidance. Another great aspect of this method is that I can give my students the opinion that responsibility is better than obedience: I do not want my students to be like obedient dogs, I want them to be themselves and understand what they need to do to develop and grow in my classroom. As to Peer Mediation, the reason that I tend to like this method is that it gives students the chance to be responsible for fixing their own conflict and find the issues and conflict a learning experience to develop themselves rather than an intrusion and inconvenience. I want my students to leave the classroom and year able to think for themselves and develop in the community through lifelong learning, and conflict resolution and discipline is one of the techniques for personal growth that can help them achieve that self-sufficiency.
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