TEFL Discipline In The Classroom

Discipline in the classroom is a necessary part of the teaching and learning process. The classroom must have order for the lessons to be a success and for the students to be able to learn properly without distraction.

I have witnessed teachers who felt uncomfortable and were unable to sustain discipline while they tried to teach. There must be mutual respect between student and teacher to be able to enjoy and learn effectively during the lesson.

The age of the students is a factor in how you are to administer discipline the young students must be instructed early in the course that certain behaviour is not acceptable. Of course these children come from different families, some who may be corrected by their parents and others who allowed to do just about what they please (within reason). They are also only young and have to be guided and shown what you will or will not accept.

From the beginning whatever age group is being taught a rapport must be made with the students. If you can gain their trust and make them feel at ease then I think you are half way there. The children must be motivated and have an interest in the topic; this keeps them focused on the job at hand and less likely to misbehave.

There are different reasons for bad behaviour, one being family problems. This is a delicate state and must be handled with care, asking the student if they are worried about anything is a start, if they want to confide in you then listen and offer comfort and encouragement. If they have low self-esteem, then the teacher must take the time to encourage them and praise them at frequent intervals, this will not only put them at ease but also lesson the bad feeling that they have.

The teacher has her part to play, she must always be consistent and fair, always be ready to stat class on time and are well prepared, this will get the students to work right away and not give them time to misbehave. The teacher must never loose her temper or bring her personal problems into the classroom.

When there is a problem with a student it must be acted on immediately, keep calm and maybe move the student so that he is not disruptive to the rest of the class. Always keep to the schools discipline code, but never go over the top with rules what we don?t want is the children feeling they cannot move for fear of restriction.

It is important to be patient with yourself and with the students and make the parents your allies, if there is a problem with a student inform the parent using the word ?concerned?. Usually parent will be aware of their child?s personality, although they will try and use the words ?what my child,? they must be informed though so that they can help or inform you of any problems they may have been having at home with the student. To start the lesson and gain the students interest and focus, use the first part of the lesson for presentation or lecturing then put the students onto class work. Keep the student actively involved and busy, this way they will not be easily bored and prone to disrupt the lesson.

Above all keep a good sense of humour in the classroom and sense of perspective understanding that you are there to teach the students and you have been where they are now, they are there to learn and life lessons are part of the class learning process, how to behave in a group setting.

One final point I feel must be taken into consideration and is a situation I have observed in The Bahamas, This is the condition known as ADD- Attention Deficit Order. ADD is banded about quite a lot and is sometimes an excuse for a child?s bad behavour, but there are some genuine cases where the child has been medically checked and has been diagnosed with the condition. The discipline of this child will of course take on a special need, although the medication given does calm the student down.

Sources used ? Internet ?m Positive Classroom Discipline

Course Work

My own experience and thoughts

Author: Annette Edwards

Date of post: 2007-04-18