Federation Day - Discipline & Authority

Here are some notes I took during the "Discipline" presentation on Federation Day - December 7th 2007:

• Good teachers don't interrupt themselves. Learning is the focus. They use their voice for learning. Non-vocal discipline involves: eye contact, proximity, and relocating items.
• Time management helps with discipline.
• Your enthusiasm is infectious to your students.
• "Good noise" - students speaking about the subject context. They are making connections.
• Use review to discipline - ex: if a student is not paying attention in class, review material instead of scolding. Scolding wastes learning time.
• Students should be able to know how to behave in a school no matter what class they are in. (This includes in the hallways and outside)
• Behaviours that is non negotiable are: courtesy, work completion, and respect.
• Discipline is guiding people to do the right thing. It is not about punishing wrong behaviour.
• Authority is about taking charge, being assertive and speaking with confidence.
• Do not plead or apologize with your students. ex: "I'm sorry, but you need to do this"
• Be firm. Have a clear idea of how you want your students to behave
• The instructor is in charge at all times
• take ownership of your authority, do not quickly pass it to the principal.
• A low, slow and articulate voice is firm and controlled.
• Yelling is a power trip/pleading
• Let your students know that there is only one way to do something, it is the right way. Teach positive behaviour.