TEFL North Pekin Indiana

For new teachers especially discipline in the classroom is one of the hardest things to grasp. The level with which you need to maintain discipline can vary between cultures, age groups, a students interest level etc. New teachers can get caught by the fact that very similar classes can behave very differently. As such a teacher can not simply assume that discipline will take care of itself nor that every class will need the same approach. It is up to the teacher to establish rules for the class early on and to maintain discipline at an appropriate level that will allows students to enjoy their learning experience without being detrimental to their progress. Being firm An essential part of discipline is the concept of being firm but fair. A teacher must establish rules for adults or children that are appropriate and then stick by these rules. This should be done from the first lesson and indeed there should be a point in that first lesson were some orientation is covered so that the students know the rules. From that point onwards the teacher must hold the students to them it is far easier to start of firmly and relax things later on than it is to correct established classroom behavior halfway through. Being fair The essential point of firm however is to also be fair, a teacher can not have favorites when it comes to discipline, each student whether adult or even a young child can quickly pick up on who the ones are getting away with things and this can damage your rapport with students as much as anything. Being consistent Consistency also needs to be maintained throughout the class, students especially the younger variety love to test the boundaries of what they can and can't get away with. Simply because it is a long day and either the teacher or the students feel tired is no reason to relax the rules. If there comes a time when the teacher is feeling that the rules need to be relaxed then this should happen at the beginning of the class and maintained. A teacher should consider this carefully though as it is very hard to regain the ground you give up. When to discipline Classes can be very busy and even hectic places at times, a teacher could be in the middle of something very important when a discipline problem occurs. It may be tempting at this point to let it slide for awhile to finish what they are doing but this is highly counterproductive. At the very least the discipline problem needs to be stopped as it occurs and the student made aware that they are breaking the rules. Further action can then be taken at that point or after class, however if the teacher does wait the need to make sure that they take the student aside after class and address the problem or the student may feel like they have gotten away with it. How to maintain discipline Discipline begins with prevention, establish the rules you expect the students to adhere to and your expectations that they will indeed follow these rules at the beginning of your classes. Be firm but fair and ensure there is consistency in how firm you are about the rules and what the consequences of breaking them are for the students. Finally a teacher must remember that certain cultures have different expectations on discipline in the classroom and it is important to keep these in mind especially when teaching young children. Always ask the more experienced teachers for advice and remember to keep things appropriate and to not shame or humiliate the students. References http://ezinearticles.com/?9-Tips-for-Better-Discipline-in-the-Classroom&id=5031699 http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Discipline-Students-in-the-Classroom&id=5282880