1.2 Practical hints for teachers on classroom discipline

In an effort to prevent and resolve student discipline problems and ensure efficient functioning of the school, there has to be reasonable disciplinary policies and procedures. These policies and procedure are made more specific at individual school levels as rules and regulations. To be legally enforceable, school rules and regulations are to be reasonable, have educational purpose and be administratively feasible. The reasonableness of rules and regulations cannot be decided in the abstract except in the context of the application or fact of the situation. To judge the reasonableness of any rule and regulation, the following criteria should be applied to every proposed rule before being enforced by the school administrator. He should put into consideration things such as:

• Is the proposed rule necessary for the orderly and effective operation of the school?

• Do the rules involve some suppression of freedom?

Due to the peculiar nature of the school, there are many areas a teacher has to conduct disciplinary matters. The rules and regulations are thus made to cover many grounds affecting the student, school attendance, use and uniform, personal appearance of the student, school attendance, use and misuse of school property, student-student relationship, student-teacher relationship, class regulations and test/examination [21, p.145-146].

There are many a practical hints on classroom for the teachers to consider. I find those given by Penny Ur the most important to be fulfilled.

Practical hints for teachers on classroom discipline

1. Start by being firm with students: you can relax later.

2. Get silence before you start speaking to the class.

3. Know and use the students' names.

4. Prepare lessons thoroughly and structure them firmly.

5. Be mobile: walk around the class.

6. Start the lesson with a 'bang' and sustain interest and curiosity.

7. Speak clearly.

8. Make sure your instructions are clear.

9. Have extra material prepared ( e.g. to cope with slower/faster-working students).

10. Look at the class when speaking, and learn how to 'scan'.

11. Make work appropriate (t o pupils' age, ability, cultural background).

12. Develop an effective questioning technique.

13. Develop the art of timing your lesson to fit the available period.

14. Vary your teaching techniques.

15. Anticipate discipline problems and act quickly.

16. Avoid confrontations.

17. Clarify fixed rules and standards and be consistent in applying them.

18. Show yourself as supporter and helper to the students.

19. Don't patronize students, treat them with respect.

20. Use humour constructively.

21. Choose topic and tasks that will activate students.

22. Be warm and friendly to the student [24, p.263].

1.3. Dealing with discipline problems

Here are eleven techniques that teacher can use in the classroom that will help to achieve effective group management and control.