Causes of discipline problems:
i. The Teacher: gosh!! How dare you PSSST... to blame the teacher...
The behaviour and the attitude of the teacher is perhaps the single most important factor in a classroom, and thus can have a major effect on discipline.
We can make a list of things that teachers should probably not do if they want to avoid problems:
We can make a list of things that teachers should probably not do if they want to avoid problems:
- Don't go to class unprepared.
- Don't be inconsistent.
- Don't issue threats.
- Don't raise your voice.
- Don't have a negative attitude to learning.
- Don't be unfair.
- Don't give boring lessons.
ii. The Students: Yeah!! They are the ones, not the teachers.
We as teachers can do everything to avoid trouble and still have problems because of the students. WHY?
- Time of the day.
- A desire to be noticed.
- The student's attitude.
- Two's company.
In general a bored student is a discipline problem.
Action in case of a lack of discipline:
- Act immediately.
- Stop the class if necessary.
- Separate students.
- Talk to student after class.
- Stop the activity if it's getting boring and unmotivating.
- Find support from the institution.
(Source: The Practice of English Language Teaching, Harmer, Jeremy. Longman 1991. Adapted by Julio Valladares)
