Tackling Discipline Issues in the Classroom

Description

Concept by Patrick O'Hare

Discipline issues are the main obstacle to creating a classroom environment conducive to learning and academic achievement and can also lead to serious work satisfaction and mental health issues for both new and experienced teachers.

Effectively addressing discipline problems is an essential aspect of classroom management and leads to better outcomes for students, teachers, and the classroom as a whole.

The main objective of this course is to introduce participants to evidence-based methods and strategies for tackling discipline issues. A further aim of this course is to help teachers develop a classroom environment that is fully conducive to learning.

During the course, participants will learn the best practices for preventing and addressing discipline problems, developing rules and routines, and establishing positive teacher-student relations.

Participants will also learn specific classroom management techniques along with digital tools for behavior modification. Furthermore, participants will learn about a psychological framework from which to understand and address misbehavior.

By the end of this course, participants will be better equipped to deal with the challenges that discipline issues present in the classroom.

Participants will have developed a deeper understanding of why discipline issues occur and will finish the course with practical tools, techniques, and strategies to both prevent and tackle discipline issues in the classroom.

Learning outcomes

The course will help the participants to:  

• Gain a deeper understanding of why discipline issues arise;
• Develop practical techniques and strategies for addressing and preventing discipline issues;
• Create a more positive learning environment that is more conducive to learning.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Introduction to the course

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Presentations of the participants’ schools.

Digital Tools for Classroom Management

• Toolkit for organizing the class;
• Group Maker, Timer, Random Selector, Noise Regulator;
• Extrinsic incentives;
• Reward the behavior you want to see with a classroom economy.

Day 2 – Techniques for addressing discipline

• Communication strategies;
• The power of choice;
• How to say ‘no’ to a student;
• Body language tips.

Dealing with Minor Disruption

• The 6 steps to getting any student on task.

The Classroom Agreement

• Setting Expectations.

Day 3 – The process of classroom management

• Creating the physical environment;
• Developing rules and routines;
• Establishing caring relationships;
• Implementing engaging instruction;
• Addressing discipline issues.

The Teacher – Student Relationship

• Positive relationships as an agent of change.

Day 4 – Understanding behavior

• The psychological underpinning of misbehavior;
• Understanding and addressing student needs.

Creating and maintaining a positive classroom environment

• Social and Emotional Learning Activities.

Day 5 – Sharing of experience and resources

• What works for you? Sharing with other teachers from across Europe.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.