Philosophy of Management and Discipline

Management and discipline represent two of the most important components in a teacher's tool kit. A potent educational philosophy is very important, but without classroom management, instruction loses efficacy. Management is a skill that develops over time and changes from year to year with the personality of the class. In one class a particular approach may be successful, while in another, a completely different approach is required. Fortunately, the framework for a system of management and discipline can rely on a handful of principles that empower students, allowing student responsibility and achievement to support successful instruction.

An environment of respect fosters responsibility. Students must be involved in the creation of classroom rules and policies. By giving the students the power to establish rules they believe will make the class function best, teachers demonstrate their respect for the students. When teachers and students share the power of the classroom by creating rules for everyone to live by, it generates a sense of ownership in the community, and teaches social responsibility. The class is free to include concepts about which they feel strongly, and teachers can contribute what they feel is most important. Once the rules have been established, the class must determine the consequences for breaking the rules. By these simple actions, students internalize the management of the classroom.

In order to sustain a positive learning environment, students must feel successful. All students need high levels of achievement. This is accomplished by teaching individually appropriate content and by providing students with the freedom to make choices each day in the classroom. When students are able to respond to the curriculum in different ways, their own interests motivate them. Learning should be fun, and students should be encouraged to have fun in class. When there is a natural place for fun in the classroom it can diffuse the need for goofing-off inappropriately. Academic success and student happiness are byproducts of student achievement.

Each student comes to school with a different set of strengths and weaknesses. Teachers need to get to know their students personally and set goals with them on a regular basis. Students should be led to create internal motivation to achieve personal goals that relate to the classroom environment. External rewards and punishments do not produce long lasting, positive change. The goal of classroom management and discipline is to give the students enough responsibility to change their lives for the better by letting them grow up in the classroom. A teacher's expectations for students powerfully impacts their ability to achieve. By providing learners with opportunities to grow and be responsible, they learn to manage themselves.