Protocol: Text Rendering Experience (pg 34 of School Reform Initiative Resource Book)
Article: http://www.honorlevel.com/x41.xml
During this session, each member chose a word, a phrase and a sentence from the text in order to create a discussion about classroom discipline. The discussion was very productive and allowed us all to share our classroom challenges, beliefs about discipline, and ideas on what improvements can be made within the class as well as school-wide in order to ensure that teachers can maximize instruction time. While some teachers commented that the “proactive discipline” modeled in the article seems to be very idealist, most agreed that changing practices takes time.
The words and phrases from the text will seem a little disconnected without the context of our conversation, so here are the sentences we chose from the text and some comments:
“These teachers have learned how to use proactive discipline to create a happy, healthy classroom setting.” – Using a proactive approach to classroom management can help create a better environment for the students to learn in
“Instead, because she has handled these details earlier, she is standing outside her classroom, welcoming each of her students as they arrive at her door.” – We all agreed that being prepared is the most important aspect of our teaching day. However, it was suggested that when teacher move around to different rooms, it can be difficult to be completely prepared. Maybe the students could move from class to class in the future to give teachers more time in a specific classroom to set up instructional activities?
“If you miss the opportunity for a smooth, controlled start, you will spend more of your time trying to calm things down and regain control.”
“She controls the situation by putting the student in control of the infraction slip. … He only has to worry about what he is going to do next.” – Giving students a clear warning, but also giving them an opportunity to correct their behavior helps students understand their responsibility in changing their behavior.
“It is very difficult to argue with someone who repeats everything you say.” J
“Switching from a reactive mode to a proactive one is not easy, but it can be done.” – As mentioned above, making changes in one’s classroom practice take time, but with the support of the school and of teacher colleagues, change is possible.