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Readers' Survey 2007: Most Effective Mode of Classroom Discipline
Edutopia readers weigh in on their favorites.
Engagement
Gold-star stickers for all of you who said the best way to keep students in line is to keep them engaged. We salute the fundamental, sound humanity in that approach (much more appealing than the cat-o'-nine-tails). But how to capture children's mercurial attention? You suggested project-based learning, group work, and interactive lessons instead of lectures. Of course, if those fail, you could follow the advice of one not-to-be-messed-with reader: "Talk louder than they do."
Other popular responses read like a prescription for the ideal classroom: rewards, positive feedback, a culture of respect, honest conversation, consistency, and a strong student-teacher rapport. And then there was the slightly mysterious suggestion made by an educator who may be reliving those heady Jefferson Airplane years: "Incentives -- I use white rabbits."
Our Take
An Attention Getter's Menu
It sounds so simple: Just engage the kids, and they'll behave. As any educator can tell you, though, sustaining engagement is an elusive goal. Everyone who succeeds probably does it differently. To provide a few examples, we asked staff here at The George Lucas Educational Foundation which teachers and lessons so engaged them that they still remember them years later. Hands-on learning, and teachers with passion for their subjects, emerged as themes.
One colleague recalled a fourth-grade game called Rapid Calc, in which her teacher created a virtual baseball diamond in the classroom and students advanced from base to base by doing quick math. Another remembers studying the history of ancient civilizations by helping create a language, an architectural style, a piece of art, and a myth. For Editor in Chief James Daly, the key to holding his interest was humor. He looked forward daily to attending his high school art class with Mr. Miller, who had a flair for the funny. "If you didn't learn something, at least you got a laugh," Daly says. "Most times, you got both."
NEXT PAGE OF READERS' SURVEY: Best open source software for education
2007 Readers' Survey Home Page
Discipline without stress
Submitted by Joy (not verified) on April 4, 2008 - 04:37.
I've used this for several years and although it required a shift in my thinking, it also caused a shift in the long term attitudes and actions in my class. You can get more information here: http://www.marvinmarshall.com
Responsive Classroom works sometimes
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on March 25, 2008 - 13:45.
For the past five years, there has always been one student in my class who really gets me going. I always try and remain positive with the students. The part that gets the most frustrating is when you are trying to read a story and a student is fooling around or not listening. I treat my students the way I want to be treated. I attended a workshop on Responsive Classroom, and I have been trying to implement it in my classroom for the past few years. It works with some, but not all. Every child is different and we just have to remember that everything affects them. From what they ate for breakfast, if they ate breakfast, if there best friend is absent from school, mom and dad fighting or not sleeping last night. All these situations affect their behavior in the classroom.
Discipline
Submitted by Cathy (not verified) on September 27, 2007 - 16:10.
The most effective form of discipline I've found is building relationships. The old adage, "Children don't care what you know, until they know you care," is usually true. Some of my most defiant students have been much better behaved in my classroom then in other classrooms. The secret... I simply asked them if they would stop whatever behavior it was, as a personal favor to me. Children know when you care about them. Teachers can't fake it. It is also true, however, that teachers who care about their students usually provide engaging lessons that are relevent to their students.
Any feedback is appreciated!
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