Discipline Problems

Students who require correction from inappropriate behaviours respond better when they are given the opportunity to respond to your directions. It's easier to correct students if you follow five rules:

1. Stop talking as soon as you feel a stress level has been reached.

2. Don't expect a response immediately after you have corrected the student.

3. Give the student time to think when you aren't talking. Say, "Think about what you would like to say before responding."

4. Give the student a chance to respond by saying, "Can you think how you might have done it better?"

5. Finally, before you give advice, ask if it is wanted. Say, "Would you like me to give you some suggestions?" or "Can I help you by offering some suggestions?"

You may recognize students early who have the potential to disrupt the class. There are ways to avoid problems by addressing the situation early.

1. Speak to the student as early as possible outside the classroom situation.

2. One-to-one, ask the student "why" he/she behaved as he/she did. Explain why the behaviour cannot be tolerated in a classroom situation.

3. Suggest ways to help the student improve his/her conduct.

4. Make a special effort to talk to the student before every class about something. Get to know them on a different basis other than tutor-student.

Remember

• It isn't the students you counsel and the students you discipline who will make your life difficult. It's the students you don't correct.
• The longer you wait, the harder it will be to change the student's behaviour.

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