Compare and contrast both discipline and management, and behavior and misbehavior. First, how would you define each word? Create a short word picture that describes each. Then askHow are they similar?How are they different?How are the pairs related to one another? Write a 500-750-word essay addressing these components. Use APA format, including an introduction, conclusion and title page. An abstract is not required.Cite in-text and in the References section.
Classroom discipline, management, behavior, and misbehavior are four terms that impact each other greatly. To describe each in a word picture is difficult, as they are all related. Imagine if you will a history classroom. Students know that they are to come into the classroom, sit down, and begin working on the review problem written on the board. This strategy for capturing student focus in classroom management. The students who immediately begin working on the problem are showing good behavior. The students who chat loudly or text on their cell phones instead of doing the work are misbehaving. These students should be disciplined based on the pre-established rules and procedures set by the teacher at the beginning of the year. These four ideas share similarities and differences, and connect with each other in extrinsic ways.
Classroom management and discipline are two different concepts. Classroom management relates to the way things are done in the classroom, while classroom discipline relates to how a teacher manages the way students behave in the classroom. Authors Harry Wong who wrote the book The First Days of School suggests that these two topics are clearly different: “Classroom management is not discipline. You manage a store. You don't discipline a store. You manage a team. You don't discipline a team. You manage a classroom. You don't discipline a classroom” (2006). When put into such practical examples, Wong's definition makes sense. Classroom management means that the teacher establishes procedures and rules that create order and a sense of safety for students. An Educational columnist for the Teacher's Net Gazette suggests that these two concepts are important for all teachers. He writes that the “differences between classroom management and discipline are two of the four distinctive concepts necessary for an understanding of effective teaching” (Marshall, 2003) However, these concepts do have their similarities. They both involve setting, and consistently following, procedures. For example, when managing the classroom, a teacher needs to have established policies and procedures for what students do during instruction time. These policies and procedures should also include consequences for students who do not follow the rules. In addition, they both involve managing students. Classroom management involves managing a group of students as a whole, while classroom discipline generally involves managing the behavior of individual students.
Behavior and misbehavior are also two distinct concepts. Both relate to the actions of a student, but one is a positive action and the other is a negative action. An example of both might be the way students respond to answering questions. If a student is behaving, he or she will follow the routines established by the teacher, such as raising a hand to speak. If a student is misbehaving, he or she might talk out of turn or interrupt his or her peers. This pair of ideas directly relates to classroom management and discipline. If students are behaving, then they are most likely following the procedures and routines that the teacher established at the beginning of the school year. If a student or a group of students are not following the procedures and routines, then the teacher needs to discipline that student or group of students. For example, if a student is constantly using his or her cell phone in class, and therefore disregarding the rule that says cell phones must be kept in student lockers at all times, then that student is misbehaving and should be disciplined.
It is difficult for even veteran teachers to have an excellent grasp of classroom management, discipline, behavior, and misbehavior, yet it essential for teachers to attempt to gain mastery of these skills. As teachers, it is our goal to ensure students learn, and these ideas “allow teachers to teach and students to learn” (Starr, 2006). As with all things worthwhile, it may take time for teachers to completely develop their thoughts on these concepts and it may take longer still for teachers to create practical ideas and successfully incorporate those ideas into their classrooms. But the journey is worthwhile-- for the students as well as the teacher.
These students should be disciplined based on the pre-established rules and procedures set by the teacher at the beginning of the year. These four ideas share similarities and differences, and connect with each other in extrinsic ways
References
Marshall, D. M. (n.d.). Promoting Learning: Curriculum, Instruction, Classroom Management, and Discipline. Teachers.Net. Retrieved March 5, 2010, from
Starr, L. (2006, September 6). School Issues and Education News: Wire Side Chats: An Interview with Harry K. Wong. Education World® The Educator's Best Friend. Retrieved March 5, 2010, from