How to Implement Positive Discipline Strategies in the Classroom
Misbehavior is key to building life skills. It is how we respond to that misbehavior that sets the foundation for our learning environments. Discipline is inevitable when in a class…however, it should be consistent and positive and not punitive in order to maintain a solid relationship with your students.
According to Dr. Jane Nelson, there are five principles of Positive Discipline:
1. It is kind and firm at the same time.
2. It helps children feel a sense of belonging and significance.
3. It is effective long-term.
4. It teaches valuable social and life skills for good character.
5. It invites children to discover how capable they are and to use their personal power in constructive ways.
So, as teachers what can we do to help guide our students toward a more acceptable behavior that we want to see in our classrooms?
Model good behavior:
Students who lose their temper need to be taught ways to calm themselves and how to use appropriate language to express their frustration. Too often schools punish students by removing privileges or placing them in a contained setting without teaching more acceptable alternatives and providing opportunities for practice. Without opportunities to learn and practice, it is impossible to improve.
We must allow a space and place for our students to feel comfortable enough to work out their feelings and emotions. One strategy is to try to roll-play. Practice acceptable behavior in class and enact a role reversal. Assume the role of the student doing what you disapprove of while letting the student practice teaching you what you want him or her to do until sufficient mastery of the new behavior is evident.
Provide a safe space within your classroom:
We often have a lack of acceptable outlets for students when it comes to expressing their feelings. When a student says they’re going to do something or they’re mad, what do we do? What if we provided time for them to discuss the issue or allowed them time to write down how they felt and explain why they felt that way? What if we also took it a step further and had them write a solution to the problem that did not involve disrupting a class, shouting, or acting out in some way? How powerful would that be for our students?
We must give our students control over their emotions and feelings, as well as provide them with options on how to handle or respond to those emotions. Even when the choices they make are unpleasant, how we respond to them is what is most important. Positive discipline is not a quick fix approach to classroom management, but in the long term, it does build a strong foundation for an awesome class community.