Discipline through Discipline through Pragmatic Classroom Pragmatic Classroom ManagementManagement

Blair CarsonBlair Carson

EDUC 531EDUC 531

Dr. Patty WilliamsDr. Patty Williams

The Wongs:The Wongs:

The Wongs’ approach is eminently The Wongs’ approach is eminently pragmaticpragmatic, built from practical ideas , built from practical ideas gleaned from myriad sources, with no gleaned from myriad sources, with no attempt to make suggestions fit any attempt to make suggestions fit any particular theory. particular theory.

They write in an informal manner and use They write in an informal manner and use many aphorisms that stick in the mind.many aphorisms that stick in the mind.

Rosemary

Harry

The Fundamental Hypothesis of The Fundamental Hypothesis of the Wongs’ Approach:the Wongs’ Approach:

Discipline problems largely disappear Discipline problems largely disappear when students are carefully taught to when students are carefully taught to follow procedures for all classroom follow procedures for all classroom activities.activities.

Wongs’ on School:Wongs’ on School:

School is where the students go to learn how School is where the students go to learn how to be productive citizens and reach their to be productive citizens and reach their potential as human beings.potential as human beings.

School should be challenging, exciting, and School should be challenging, exciting, and thought provoking, but it must have structure to thought provoking, but it must have structure to ensure student success.ensure student success.

You cannot give students self-esteem, but you You cannot give students self-esteem, but you can make sure they find success in school.can make sure they find success in school.

Wongs’ on Teaching:Wongs’ on Teaching:

Teaching is a craft – a highly skilled craft that can be learned.Teaching is a craft – a highly skilled craft that can be learned. By far the most important factor in school learning is the ability of By far the most important factor in school learning is the ability of

the teacher. The more capable the teacher, the more successful the teacher. The more capable the teacher, the more successful the student.the student.

Good teachers enhance the life and spirit of the students they Good teachers enhance the life and spirit of the students they teach.teach.

Stop asking, “What am I supposed to do?” Start asking, “What Stop asking, “What am I supposed to do?” Start asking, “What must I know that will help me accomplish what I need to do?”must I know that will help me accomplish what I need to do?”What you do on the first day of school determines your success What you do on the first day of school determines your success for the rest of the year.for the rest of the year.

Start class immediately. Do not take roll until later.Start class immediately. Do not take roll until later. Learning is the most effective when it takes place in a supportive Learning is the most effective when it takes place in a supportive

community of learners.community of learners.

On Teaching (Cont’d):On Teaching (Cont’d):

The more that the students work together responsibly, The more that the students work together responsibly, the more they learn. the more they learn.

Shorter assignments produce higher student Shorter assignments produce higher student achievement.achievement.

Intersperse questions throughout a lesson.Intersperse questions throughout a lesson. Students usually learn more from an activity-question Students usually learn more from an activity-question

approach to teaching than from a textbook-lecture approach to teaching than from a textbook-lecture approach.approach.

Teachers go through 4 stages of professional Teachers go through 4 stages of professional development-fantasy, survival, mastery, and impact.development-fantasy, survival, mastery, and impact.

You can have your achievements or you can have your You can have your achievements or you can have your excuses.excuses.

Those who teach well never cease to learn.Those who teach well never cease to learn.

About Classrooms and Procedures:About Classrooms and Procedures:

The most important factor governing learning is not The most important factor governing learning is not discipline; it is how a teacher manages a classroom.discipline; it is how a teacher manages a classroom.

A well-managed classroom is task oriented and A well-managed classroom is task oriented and predictable.predictable.

Effective teachers spend most of the first two weeks of Effective teachers spend most of the first two weeks of the school year teaching students to follow classroom the school year teaching students to follow classroom procedures.procedures.

The very first day, the very first minute, the very first The very first day, the very first minute, the very first second of school, teachers should begin to establish a second of school, teachers should begin to establish a structure of procedures and routines for the class.structure of procedures and routines for the class.

About Roles and Responsibilities: About Roles and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities as Your Teacher:Responsibilities as Your Teacher: To treat you with respect and care.To treat you with respect and care. To provide you an orderly classroom.To provide you an orderly classroom. To provide the necessary discipline.To provide the necessary discipline. To provide the appropriate motivation. To provide the appropriate motivation. To teach the required content.To teach the required content.

Responsibilities as My Students:To treat me with respect and care as an individual.To attend classes regularly.To be cooperative and not disruptive.To study and do your work well.To learn and master the required content.

About Discipline:About Discipline:

Classroom rules indicate the behavior you expect from Classroom rules indicate the behavior you expect from students.students.

Rules of behavior set limits, just as do rules in games. Rules of behavior set limits, just as do rules in games. They create a work-oriented atmosphere.They create a work-oriented atmosphere.

Behavior associated with rules must be taught through Behavior associated with rules must be taught through discussion, demonstration, and practice.discussion, demonstration, and practice.

Consequences should be attached to rules – positive Consequences should be attached to rules – positive consequences for compliance and negative for non consequences for compliance and negative for non compliance.compliance.

Explain your discipline plan to students the first day of Explain your discipline plan to students the first day of school.school.

About Testing and Evaluation:About Testing and Evaluation:

If a student cannot demonstrate learning or If a student cannot demonstrate learning or achievement, it is the teacher’s fault, not the achievement, it is the teacher’s fault, not the student’s.student’s.

Use criterion-referenced tests to evaluate student Use criterion-referenced tests to evaluate student performance.performance.

The more frequent the tests, the higher the The more frequent the tests, the higher the achievement.achievement.

Grade on what is learned, not on the curve – a Grade on what is learned, not on the curve – a procedure that has done great harm to education.procedure that has done great harm to education.

First Day of Class:First Day of Class:

Have you classroom ready for instruction, and make it inviting.Have you classroom ready for instruction, and make it inviting. Organize your classroom in accordance with a script that you Organize your classroom in accordance with a script that you

follow.follow. Stand at the door and greet students as they enter.Stand at the door and greet students as they enter. Give each student a seating assignment and a seating chart.Give each student a seating assignment and a seating chart. Position yourself in the room near students: Problems are Position yourself in the room near students: Problems are

proportional to distance between you and them.proportional to distance between you and them. In a consistent location, post an assignment for students to begin In a consistent location, post an assignment for students to begin

when they enter the room.when they enter the room. Display your diploma and credentials with pride. Dress in a Display your diploma and credentials with pride. Dress in a

professional manner that models success.professional manner that models success.

About the First Week of Training:About the First Week of Training:

3 most important things: discipline, 3 most important things: discipline, procedures, and routines.procedures, and routines.

Explain your discipline plan to students.Explain your discipline plan to students. State your procedures and rehearse State your procedures and rehearse

them until they become routines.them until they become routines.

A Discipline Plan is Necessary, A Discipline Plan is Necessary, HoweverHowever

They believe most teachers are too eager to begin teaching lessons, They believe most teachers are too eager to begin teaching lessons, and when misbehavior occurs, those teachers apply punitive and when misbehavior occurs, those teachers apply punitive measures to stop it.measures to stop it.

The Wongs are not particular about the kind of discipline you use, they The Wongs are not particular about the kind of discipline you use, they prefer if you adopt a style that suits your requirements and needs.prefer if you adopt a style that suits your requirements and needs.

The Wongs suggest that you carefully think though the kind of The Wongs suggest that you carefully think though the kind of behavior you expect from students.behavior you expect from students.

Wongs suggest that you limit your number of rules to a maximum of Wongs suggest that you limit your number of rules to a maximum of five.five.

The rules of the classroom are to help students learn in a safe and The rules of the classroom are to help students learn in a safe and effective way.effective way.

Also, organization is knowing where things are, and making your Also, organization is knowing where things are, and making your time and space work for you.time and space work for you.

How to Decide on Procedures for Your How to Decide on Procedures for Your ClassroomClassroom

To establish good procedures do two things: (1) Decide what To establish good procedures do two things: (1) Decide what routines are needed for the activities you will provide, and (2) routines are needed for the activities you will provide, and (2) make lists of the procedural steps students must follow to make lists of the procedural steps students must follow to participate in and benefit from the activities.participate in and benefit from the activities.

Every time you want students to do something, they need to follow Every time you want students to do something, they need to follow a procedure. a procedure.

Examples of some of the matters the Wongs give specific Examples of some of the matters the Wongs give specific attention to are:attention to are: How to enter and exit the classroom.How to enter and exit the classroom. How to begin and finish work.How to begin and finish work. How the class is to get quiet when necessary.How the class is to get quiet when necessary. How to move about the classroom.How to move about the classroom. How to walk in corridors.How to walk in corridors.

Classroom Procedures Must Be Classroom Procedures Must Be TaughtTaught

Good procedures allow a great variety of activities to occur, often Good procedures allow a great variety of activities to occur, often several at the same time, with little confusion.several at the same time, with little confusion.

The Wongs suggest a 3-step method for teaching procedures:The Wongs suggest a 3-step method for teaching procedures: 1. 1. ExplainExplain. Teacher states, explains, and demonstrates the procedure.. Teacher states, explains, and demonstrates the procedure. 2. 2. RehearseRehearse. Students rehearse and practice the procedure under the . Students rehearse and practice the procedure under the

teacher supervision.teacher supervision. 3. 3. ReinforceReinforce. Teacher reteaches, rehearses, practices, and reinforces the . Teacher reteaches, rehearses, practices, and reinforces the

classroom procedure until it becomes a habit.classroom procedure until it becomes a habit.

How to Begin a Classroom Successfully:How to Begin a Classroom Successfully:

Wongs say new teachers have bags brimming with ideas, lesson Wongs say new teachers have bags brimming with ideas, lesson plans, and new ideas for the classroom. But new teachers have little plans, and new ideas for the classroom. But new teachers have little idea about what to do during the first days and weeks of school.idea about what to do during the first days and weeks of school.

The Wongs present a First Day of School Action Plan, which they The Wongs present a First Day of School Action Plan, which they credit to Sarah Jondahl. It consists of step-by-step processes of how credit to Sarah Jondahl. It consists of step-by-step processes of how to prepare your classroom, academic expectations, time frames, to prepare your classroom, academic expectations, time frames, lesson plans, and activities for the first days of school.lesson plans, and activities for the first days of school.

Wongs’ emphasize that teachers need to set high expectations from Wongs’ emphasize that teachers need to set high expectations from day 1.day 1.

Before class begins, tell yourself:Before class begins, tell yourself: 1. I will establish classroom management procedures from the beginning.1. I will establish classroom management procedures from the beginning. 2. I will convey that this class will be business-like, with a firm, competent, warm 2. I will convey that this class will be business-like, with a firm, competent, warm

teacher.teacher. First I will establish work habits in my students and I will worry about content later.First I will establish work habits in my students and I will worry about content later.

The First Five Minutes are Critical:The Wongs repeat that you should have an assignment for the students to begin working as soon as they walk into the classroom.Set the tone in the first few minutes for your classroom.Students needs to know their expectations.Make sure that their materials are all ready.

Procedures for Cooperative Work Groups:Students do better when they are allowed to work in cooperative learning groups. Wongs suggest that you call your groups support groups with each member of the group known as a support buddy.Effective teachers teach the students procedures and social skills needed for functioning in a group.Before you begin your first group activity, teach students how to do the following:

1. Be responsible for you own work and behavior.2. Ask a support buddy for help if you have a question.3. Help any support buddy who asks for help.4. Ask for help from the teacher only when support buddies cannot supply it.