Some teachers look for a magical formula to cure all their difficulties with classroom discipline. They hope for a “one-size fits all” approach — something easy, something that won’t require much effort. While certain methods and styles might seem to work, their long-range effect must be brought into question.
Do they lead to the biblical objective in discipline?
Do they line up with God’s character and ways?
Are they having a lasting impact?
Tips for Choosing Basic In-Class Strategies for Classroom Discipline
Choose discipline methods wisely. Consider the points made in the tips that follow when determining how you should handle a situation.
- Minister to the needs of each individual.
- Treat your students with dignity and respect.
- Put a high premium on relationship.
- Try to determine the root cause of the misbehavior.
- Compensate for individual differences among students.
- Be careful you aren’t reinforcing negative behavior.
- What works for one child may not work for another.
- “Time-out” does not work in all situations.
- Sometimes it is appropriate to ignore misbehavior.
- To be heard you must be consistent.
This post comes from the introductory remarks in the Handbook on the Basics of Classroom Discipline under the Basic In-Class Strategies section which looks at each of the above tips, along with twenty other tips that fit other Basics.