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Student Discipline
  
Classroom Management

1. Establish behavior rules for your classroom. Students may enjoy and take more ownership of rules that they develop as a class (with your guidance). When determining rules, be sure that they are observable. The key rule that must be in effect at all times is that students should follow your directions the first time they are given.
2. Determine disciplinary consequences for your classroom. The consequences you choose should be:
  • ones that you are comfortable administering consistently.
  • ones that are disliked by the students without being physically or psychologically harmful to them.
  • included in a discipline hierarchy.

3. Determine positive reinforcement for your classroom. Guidelines for positive reinforcement include:

  • responses with which you are comfortable.
  • things that the student want and enjoy.
  • things provided as soon as possible after the student exhibits appropriate behavior(sooner for younger students).
  • things that can be provided often.
  • planned to reward specific appropriate behavior.

4. Display your plan prominently in your classroom.

5. Communicate your discipline plan to your parents in writing, and at Open House and in conferences. Use the following steps:

  • Determine standards for student behavior in our classroom.
  • Communicate your standards to parents and students from the beginning of school.
  • Attempt to give two positive reinforcements for every one negative consequence.
  • Document all misbehavior.
  • Be prompt – at the first sign of a problem, contact parents.

6. Prepare a discipline plan for substitute teachers (see form in this handbook).

  • BE CONSISTENT, FAIR, AND IMPARTIAL in dealing with students, not only in discipline, but also in all aspects of your classroom. Avoid even the appearance of indiscreet haste in the disciplining of students. Often a waiting period is helpful to both teacher and student. Avoid punishing the entire class for the misbehavior of a few students. Remember that it is NEVER appropriate to embarrass or humiliate a student. Carefully avoid overreacting or responding in anger to a student’s misbehavior. We are professional adults and must conduct ourselves in a professional, mature manner at all times.
  • WHEN YOU SEND A STUDENT TO THE OFFICE FOR DISCIPLINARY PURPOSES, complete the MNPS referral form. These forms serve as important documentation of inappropriate student behaviors. If the behavior difficulties have become a pattern, please make certain that a recent phone call or other contact has been made to the parent regarding these behaviors. In addition, if a behavior is repetitive and consistently problematic to that student and other students’ learning, request a Student Support Team (S-Team) meeting through the school counselor and complete a “Functional Behavior Assessment” with Mr. Ross, Mrs. Slaughter, or the school psychologist.