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How to deal with discipline

disciplined learning environment helps

A disciplined learning environment helps students and teachers alike. However, classroom discipline often causes consternation and fear in new students. Keeping such considerations in mind, here are few tips to help you deal with discipline.

Be a pateint listener

In dealing with discipline issues, it is always advisable to hear the other person. Listen to him or her speech as patiently as possible. Once the student has finished speaking, repeat the things spoken by him or her. Be sure to use exact words only. Consider asking questions like – did I hear you right? Or would you like to add a few things? However, do not go over board with your suggestions. Concentrate more on what the student says than on formulating what your probable answer to all his tribulations could possibly be. Try and understand the other person’s point of view as best as you can. Are you taking in every bit of the conversation or observing the body language? Instead of trying to extract meaning from the student’s body language, for a change, rely on the assessment capacities of your ears.

Empathize with them

If you really want students to stop behaving in an unruly manner, then empathize with them. It is absolutely imperative that you try and understand the other person’s side. Listening skills come into play here. Additionally, not interrupting, paying utmost attention, maintaining regular eye contact and the use of positive body language are other factors that play a crucial role in helping you empathize with the student. Emotions of frustration of tension, concern, confusion and nervousness are not only easy to detect but are verbally acknowledgeable too. However, it should be remembered that all your students are undergoing a vulnerable phase in life. Naming certain emotions could ruin the person’s self-esteem, make him feel insulted or prompt him to give indiscipline or unruliness of another shot. A little empathizing on your side is all it takes to break the ice. No student, after all is ever too difficult to deal with.

Keep them occupied with learning by making the lessons appear interesting

Boredom is a major factor prompting students to become undisciplined. There are several examples of cases where disciplinary issues took place primarily because students had started to feel uncomfortable or bored. Creating a relaxed environment for learning is the only solution. Pick subjects that are both interesting and informative. It has to be borne in mind that a majority of students come with little or no prior knowledge. If you are a teacher of literature, then consider giving students a small background information on the story you are about to teach. This will make them take an additional interest in the story, instead of feeling lost half way through. There are several other techniques equally effective in grabbing the attention of students. Additionally, they can also be made to draw about the lesson, find songs associated with the story, build things or write poems. By keeping them occupied, you will be able to direct the energy towards all things, positively.

Understand the issues being faced by students and make plans accordingly

Students are emotionally vulnerable creatures for whom things like space and empathy matter a lot. A majority of discipline issues could easily be avoided if teachers start recognizing the true importance of proximity in their interactions with students. The most difficult student in your class could as well be the most emotionally vulnerable of the lot. Therefore, if tackling discipline issues appears difficult or tricky from a distance, then get closer to your students. Classroom seating arrangements also play a crucial role in either fueling or reducing the occurrence of indiscipline. Arrange students in such a way that the biggest set of troublemakers are positioned farthest from one another.

 

Be calm and cool with students

Instead of getting angry on students who are inferior to you both in age and experience, try and practice calmness. While in certain cases you may need to handle the unruly behavior with firmness, for a majority of them a calm approach would prove efficient. In a dignified manner, explain the flipsides of unruliness to your students.

 

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