Discipline Survival Guide for the Secondary Teacher

JULIA G. THOMPSON has been a public school teacher for more than twenty-five years. Thompson currently teaches in Fairfax County, Virginia, and is an active speaker, consultant, teacher trainer, and workshop presenter. Author of the best-selling The First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide and The First-Year Teacher's Checklist, she also publishes a Web site (http://juliagthompson.com) offering tips for teachers on a wide variety of topics.

• About This Book vAbout the Author viAcknowledgments viiIntroduction xviiSection One: Successful Discipline Rests with You 1You Can Make a Difference 1Accept Responsibility 2You are Not Alone 3Why Punishment and Other Ineffective Discipline Techniques Do Not Work 4What You Should Know About Adolescents 5How Much Autonomy Should You Allow? 9The Behaviors You Can Expect from Your Students 10Proactive Attitudes That Can Help You Create a Positive Discipline Climate 12Making Positive Choices 14Questions for Reflection 14Section Two: Adopt a Comprehensive Approach for a Successful Discipline Climate 15Begin the Process with a Broad View 15The Characteristics of a Well-Managed Twenty-First-Century Classroom 16Five Commonsense Steps to a Productive Classroom Environment 18The Most Common Discipline Mistakes That Secondary Teachers Make 18Effective Management and Discipline Practices 21Teacher Self-Assessment: How Well-Disciplined is Your Class? 23Teacher Worksheet: Develop Your Classroom Discipline Plan 24Teacher Self-Assessment: Think it Through: How Would You Rate Your New Discipline Plan? 27Put Your High Expectations to Work 28How to Communicate Your High Expectations 30Making Positive Choices 30Questions for Reflection 31Section Three: Cultivate Your Role as a Classroom Leader 33Become an Effective Classroom Leader 33Students Should Come First 34View Yourself as a Coach 34The Importance of Assessing Your Performance 35Teacher Self-Assessment: How Well Do You Convey Your Enthusiasm? 36Teacher Self-Assessment: Classroom Leadership Self-Assessment 37How to Gather Other Data on Your Classroom Competence 38Teacher Self-Assessment: Sample Self-Rating Rubric 39Teacher Worksheet: Setting Goals for Improving Your Classroom Leadership 40Avoid Unreasonable Expectations 45How to Manage Your Stressful Career 45The Promise of Professionalism 47How to Be Prepared for Class Every Day 50How to Make Your Students Pay Attention to You 51Show Respect to Gain Respect 52Teacher Self-Assessment: Are You Too Permissive? 54Teacher Self-Assessment: Determine What You Want Your Students to Say About You 57Watch Your Body Language 58Know Your Audience 59Be Careful About Your Language 61Making Positive Choices 61Questions for Reflection 62Section Four: Foster a Positive Classroom Environment 63Establish a Positive Classroom Environment 63Safety Must Come First 64How to Determine If Students are Stressed Instead of Challenged 66Student Worksheet: How Stressed are You? 67Protect Your Students from Bullies 68Making Your Classroom Safe by Enforcing School Rules 71Establish a Physical Environment Conducive to Learning 71Seating Arrangements 75Sharing Classroom Space 75Overcrowded Classrooms 76Dealing with Noise Levels 78Promoting Classroom Ownership 79Create a Student-Centered Class Atmosphere 80Structure Your Class to Use Time Wisely 80Quick Tips to Make Every Minute Count 80The First Ten Minutes of Class 81Reducing Disruptions Through Effective Transitions 83Activities to Keep Students Engaged in Learning During Transition Times 84The Last Ten Minutes of Class 86Making Positive Choices 88Questions for Reflection 89Section Five: Promote Self-Discipline 91Moving Beyond Crowd Control to Promote Self-Discipline 91Become a Consistent Teacher 93Teach Students How to Monitor Themselves 94Student Worksheet: Your Class Goals 96Student Worksheet: Assignment Checklist 97Student Worksheet: My Goals for Today 98Student Worksheet: The Progress of My Grades 99Student Worksheet: Self-Evaluation Form 100Focus on Your Students’ Strengths 101Increase Positive Interactions with Your Students 102How to Encourage Students Who are Struggling 102How to Help Impulsive Students 104How to Assist Students with Attention Deficit Disorders 104How to Support Students Who are Underachievers 105How to Help Students Make Up Missed Work 106Promoting Self-Discipline Through Improved Self-Image 107Teach Your Students to Set and Achieve Goals 109Student Worksheet: Setting Long-Term Goals 111Student Worksheet: Setting Mid-Term Goals 113Student Worksheet: Setting Short-Term Goals 114Teach Students to Make Good Decisions 115Creating Self-Disciplined Students Through Problem-Solving Activities 116Behavior Modeling That Can Transform Your Class 118Teacher Worksheet: Behavior Modeling Chart 119Use Behavior Contracts to Promote Responsibility 120Teacher Worksheet: Sample Assignment Contract 121Teacher Worksheet: Sample Behavior Contract 1 124Teacher Worksheet: Sample Behavior Contract 2 125Student Worksheet: Sample Group Contract 127Hold Students Accountable for Their Own Success 128Making Positive Choices 130Questions for Reflection 130Section Six: Use Classroom Management Systems 131Classroom Management Decisions You Will Have to Make 131How Classroom Rules, Policies, and Procedures Promote Self-Discipline 132A Simple Technique to Make Rules, Procedures, and Policies Easy to Remember 133Setting Limits and Abiding by Them 133How to Say “No” without Being Negative 134Create Classroom Rules 135How to Teach Classroom Rules Successfully 138Enforce Classroom Rules 139Policies That Guide Your Students 140Establish Control Through Class Procedures 141Teacher Worksheet: Student Sign-Out Sheet 144Student Worksheet: Missing Work Reminder List 146Making Positive Choices 147Questions for Reflection 148Section Seven: Create and Maintain a Partnership with Students’ Families 149Why All Teachers Need This Positive Relationship 149Positive Attitudes to Help You Work with Parents and Guardians 150Avoid Confrontation with a Transparent Classroom 151How to Generate a Positive Working Relationship 151Teacher Worksheet: Sample Introductory Letter 152Student Worksheet: Student Progress Checkup Form 154What You Can Expect from Your Students’ Parents and Guardians 156What Your Students’ Parents and Guardians Should Expect from You 156Hold Beneficial Conferences 157Documenting Home Contacts 160Teacher Worksheet: Contact Documentation Form 161Manage Electronic Correspondence 162Make Productive Phone Calls 162Maintain a Class Web Page 163How to Maintain Student Privacy 164Making Positive Choices 165Questions for Reflection 166Section Eight: Establish a Cooperative Classroom Climate 167The Synergy of a Cooperative Classroom Climate 167What to Do When Your School’s Climate is Not Positive 168Connect with Your Students 169The Basics of a Good Teacher-Student Relationship 171How to Get to Know Your Students 172Student Worksheet: Student Inventory: Impressions 173Student Worksheet: Student Inventory: Attitudes 175Student Worksheet: Student Inventory: Reactions of Others 178Teacher Worksheet: Parent or Guardian Inventory 179How to Let Your Students Know That You Care 180Boundaries in Teacher-Student Relationships 181Seeking Feedback from Your Students 182Teach Social Skills 183Teacher Worksheet: Checklist of Social Skills All Secondary Students Should Master 184What to Do When a Student Confides in You 185The Importance of Modeling Courtesy 186Use Conflict Resolution Strategies to Create a Productive Classroom 187Arming Our Students: Teaching the Art of the Alternative Response to Rude Classmates 189Create a Sense of Community by Helping Students Learn About Each Other 190Use Interview Projects to Help Students Learn About Each Other 192Enjoy the Benefits of a Diverse Classroom 192Build a Positive Classroom Culture 194Making Positive Choices 196Questions for Reflection 196Section Nine: Maintain Order with Effective Instruction 197The Relationship Between Instruction and Discipline 197Provide Engaging Instruction 198Activities to Engage Students 199Build in Relevance 201Pace Instruction to Keep Every Student on Task 201What to Do When Wasted Time Causes Problems 202Differentiate Instruction to Engage Your Students 204How to Have Successful Homework Assignments 207Student Worksheet: Homework Questionnaire for Students 209Teacher Worksheet: Sample Syllabus 211Student Worksheet: Parent-Teacher-Student Homework Notification Form 213Student Worksheet: Missing Homework Explanation Form 214Teach the Process of Long-Term Projects 215Student Notebooks: Organizing for Success 217Ask Productive Questions 218Play Games with Your Students 220How to Use Technology to Enhance Instruction 224Help Students Stay on Task When Working with Computers 228Teaching Students to Work Well Together 229Teacher Worksheet: Group Monitoring Form 230Some Quick Collaborative Activities without Technology Support 234Some Quick Collaborative Activities with Technology Support 235Monitoring Students’ Behavior 235Quick Monitoring Techniques 237Use a Syllabus to Prevent Problems 238When You Need a Substitute 239Making Positive Choices 241Questions for Reflection 241Section Ten: Promote Achievement and Learning 243The Role Motivation Plays in a Positive Discipline Plan 243Make Sure Students Know How to Do Their Work 244Teacher Self-Assessment: How Well Do You Give Instructions? 245Study Skills Appropriate for Secondary Students 246Positive Reinforcement Makes the Difference 249Use Encouragement and Praise 249How to Use Encouragement and Praise Effectively 250Employ Extrinsic Motivation 250Techniques for Increasing Intrinsic Motivation 252Arouse Student Curiosity 255Build Critical-Thinking Skills 256Questions That Spark Critical Thinking 258Task Stems to Motivate Students Through Critical-Thinking Activities 260Active Learning Strategies for Active Students 261Use Inductive Learning to Engage Students 263Another Useful Method of Using Inductive Teaching: Case Studies 264Appeal to Your Students’ Altruism 264Internet Resources for Service Projects in Your Classroom 266Show Students How to Benefit from Formative Assessments 266Student Worksheet: What Did You Learn from This Assignment? 269Student Worksheet: Reflection Sheet for Formative Assessments 270Enlarge the Learning Environment 271Create a Culture of Excellence in Your Classroom 272Making Positive Choices 274Questions for Reflection 274Section Eleven: Prevent Discipline Problems 275Create a Positive Classroom When You Prevent Discipline Problems 275When You are the Cause of the Problem 276When What You Say Causes Problems 279Conducting Useful Student Conferences 280Strategies for Successful Student Conferences 280Making Detentions Beneficial for Your Students 281Essay Questions That Will Help Solve Discipline Problems 283How to Handle the Difficult Class 284Win Over Your Difficult Students 288How to Increase the Positive Behavior in Your Class 289How to Decrease the Negative Behavior in Your Class 292Making Positive Choices 294Questions for Reflection 294Section Twelve: Cope Successfully with DisciplineProblems Once They Occur 295The Difficult Task of Responding to Discipline Problems 295How to Successfully Investigate a Behavior Problem 296Employ the Steps of the Problem-Solving Approach 297The Importance of Early Intervention 297Teacher Worksheet: Behaviors and Interventions Checklist 299The Choices Teachers Have When Dealing with Discipline Problems 304Teacher Self-Assessment: How You Can Determine If a Discipline Action is Appropriate 307How to Refer a Student to the Office 308The Importance of Anecdotal Behavior Records 310Teacher Worksheet: Behavior Record Form 311Teacher Worksheet: Behavior Analysis Log 312How to Preserve Your Students’ Dignity 313How to Handle Chronic Misbehavior 313How to Manage Students Who Want to Sleep Instead of Participate in Class 314What to Do When Students Lack Materials 315How to Help Students Who Daydream 316How to Manage Student Cell Phone Use in Class 317How to Manage Hallway Misbehavior 317How to Handle Requests to See the School Nurse 319How to Handle Vandalism 320How to Manage Profanity 321How to Intervene When Students are Tardy 322How to Intervene When Students are Truant 324How to Reduce Excessive Talking 325How to Avoid Power Struggles 327How to Intervene When Students Cheat 329How to Cope When Students Steal 333What to Do When Students are Defiant 334Substance Abuse 336What to Do When Students are Violent 338Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore 341Making Positive Choices 342Questions for Reflection 342Index 343