Discipline in the Classroom

Use this for your advantages

As a teacher, providing a safe, comfortable classroom environment and maximizing opportunities for student learning are the most important factors in governing student behavior. In these statements, I will describe strategies for establishing and maintaining a well-managed environment to optimize learning opportunities. These strategies are highly influenced by Harry and Rosemary Wong.

To make the room stimulating and visually appeasing, Decorate it with science/math/history and other materials as well as examples of student work. At the same time, to minimize student distraction.

In order to help all students feel welcome and comfortable, get to know their names and interests right away and have informal conversations with them. All students’ interests, strengths, and cultural backgrounds are welcomed and valued. Treat all students equitably and interact and communicate with them to make them feel cared for, listened to, and respected. Make the effort to respond to all student questions and to remain patient and calm contribute to a comforting, welcoming classroom environment.

At the beginning of the year, communicate the rules and expectations clearly and directly. Require students and their parents to sign a contract stating that they have read and understand your behavioral and academic expectations and consequences. These contracts help to create a safe, positive, work-oriented environment where students are comfortable and time is not wasted on unnecessary or preventable events; as a result, there is more time available for quality instruction.

To minimize confusion, It can helpful to tell students what is expected of them and how to succeed in the class. For example, daily routines and procedures are implemented and posted. (CHAMPS) A weekly calendar of assignments and due dates are also visible. By using these things consistently, students become familiar with them and achieve a sense of security in my classroom. Provide students with objectives and clear, concise directions visually and vocally. These things help keep students focused, creating fewer behavioral issues and allowing for more meaningful instruction time.

To prevent students from becoming sidetracked and bored, it is important to have a continuous flow of activities. To ensure this, plan all lessons with extra activities for unexpected “free” time. All materials are organized in terms of accessibility and availability so less time is spent accessing them. These efforts help ensure that class time is used wisely for furthering education.

In sum, a well-managed classroom creates a comfortable, safe place where students want to learn. It also prevents distracting events and behavioral issues, which allows for more quality instructional and learning time.

Discipline Review: Philosophy

Every Classroom should have a set of standards for everyone to see and understand. This concept is right from your curriculum and to how we manage behavior. If we don't have a good behavior management system (Classroom Management), our instruction will suffer regardless of how good of a teacher you are.

Here are the dynamics of a great classroom management system and have proven to lower referrals and increase learning.

This concept of classroom management and design also only works if we all work as a team. As Bo Schembechler would say: The Team, The Team, The Team.

Each classroom should have there top three to four rules, along with what will happen if those rules have been broken.

Cover the new rules with your students:

Communication for all involved and collaboration for all is essential to a successful school wide program. With the strong PBIS program that Arkon-Fairgrove already has, this builds and compliments the already existing infrastructure.

I will only accept discipline referrals that have gone through the following process.

Procedures for classrooms will need to require no more than:

4 top rules in your room.
3 to 4 top consequences in your place.

Why rooms need consequences:

Consequences are part of life. If one of our main goals of education is to prepare students for life, then we do them a disservice to shield them from consequences. If they consistently decide to blow off work in their job, do you think their boss will simply withhold positive reinforcement? I doubt it…..well, technically maybe they will. In the form of “you will no longer receive a paycheck from this company.”

Consequences promote personal responsibility. One of the most important traits we need to teach our students is personal responsibility, and when coupled with positive motivation, consequences are extremely effective at doing this. You were well-behaved today? Great job! Keep it up and you’ll earn (whatever reward is appropriate). You disrupted class? Here are your consequences.

By Jan. 7, 2019. Please send me a copy of the top 4 rules and consequences you have added for your room. Please email to me or stop by and give me a copy.

It will be required that you go through your steps of rules and consequence before writing up a student. (unless the infraction is so severe, it needs an immediate response such as a fight for example)

Once you have written up a student, you have till the end of the day (Same day) to make a call home to the parent/guardian. You are the first point of contact.

I will then proceed to deal with the student. However, it takes the first line of communication from you to support the process. I don’t like being the middleman; if you want our support, then we need to work together. Open discussions to parents. I understand they may not always go as planned, but we can agree that the attempt to build those relationships are there.


Finally, as the weeks go on: I will have the chance to visit classrooms to see your style and approaches to things. Visiting classrooms will help me support you as I will be able to understand your methods. This is in no way to interfere with your instructional process, yet it will allow me to build a healthy connection to you and your classroom. I can’t wait to get into your classrooms.

So, a brief overview is as follows:

Develop 3 to 4 top rules for your room. Develop 3 to 4 consequences or expectations if those rules are broken. For Example:

Mr. Barraco's Classroom Rules

1. No talking when the teacher is talking.
2. Treat others how you want to be treated.
3. Never hit, push, injure or threaten another student
4. Use your indoor voice.

Mr. Barraco's expectations if rules are broken.

1. Verbal Warning
2. Final Verbal Warning/Loss of a privilege
3. Out to the Hallway and have a discussion
4. Discipline Referral to the office and call home.

Thank you for welcoming to your school. I hope I can help create an environment that will allow you to continue to grow professionally and help students learn.

Email: tbarraco@a-f.k12.mi.us
Location: Akron-Fairgrove Middle/High School
Twitter: @tbarraco64