Managing discipline problems

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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:

• 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)