Preparation

• Before the beginning of the school year, think through a typical day in the classroom. Looking at the schedule, decide where specific procedures are needed. Write and print out a handbook for each student. You can make the handbook as detailed as you like. Just include all the situations that are the most important to you for keeping order in your classroom. As you discuss the handbook with the class, questions can be addressed and procedures can be explained. Students should know what is expected when they enter in the morning --- where to sit, where to put supplies, how to turn in money and papers and how to begin their work for the day. They should know how to line up when leaving the classroom. Design procedures for bathroom visits, lunchroom behavior and homework assignments. Discuss your expectations for behavior and the consequences for breaking rules. Set up a system for recording behavior problems. You can use tally marks, a clip chart or a sticker chart.
  
  

Establishing Routines

• Spend time at the first of the year consistently reminding students about your rules and rewarding those who abide by them. After the first couple of months, routines will be established and you will be spending less time addressing behavior and more time teaching. As students are consistently rewarded for good behavior, they will follow the rules and work toward self-management.
  
  

Posted Rules

• Post guidelines on the walls. Students need visual reminders of rules and procedures. This makes it convenient for you to just point to the list and keep right on teaching rather than stopping to speak to a student about behavior. Be flexible --- if a situation arises that warrants making another rule, discuss it and add it to the list. Each class is different, and some need more structure and more detailed expectations than others.
  
  

Modeling Discipline

• Be the example of organization and control. If you expect students to keep their desks clutter-free and organized, your desk should be the model. If you want students to speak respectfully, you must show respect, even when correcting unacceptable behavior. Let the students see that you are prepared for each day's lesson, just as you expect them to be prepared when they enter your classroom.
  
  

Signals

• Use signals to get attention. A productive classroom is not always quiet. When students are working together and you need to speak to all of them, have a prearranged signal. Use a bell, a clapping pattern, a tambourine or whatever gets attention. Teach the children to stop what they are doing immediately and look at you when they hear the signal.
  
  

Dealing with Discipline

• When discipline problems arise, deal with them firmly and fairly. Restate your expectations and have the student tell you which rule he broke. Put your prejudices aside and dole out corrections impartially --- even to those students who consistently test your patience. Make positive statements such as, "I know you are mature enough to control your impulsive talking out in class, therefore I am expecting to see improvement." This places responsibility on the student and guides him toward self-discipline.
  
  

Consistency and Flexibility

• Consistency is the key to classroom management and discipline. Students should know what to expect each day when they enter your classroom. When they have mastered your routine, then you can vary from it occasionally when you and the students need a change of pace.