There is a way to be more consistent that doesn’t require you to be more disciplined.
It doesn’t take extra brain power. It isn’t stressful or hard to do. In fact, it’s easy and comes naturally if you do just one thing.
So what is it?
It’s to have clarity over what does and doesn’t constitute breaking your classroom rules.
You see, most teachers have gray areas. In other words, there are disruptions that arise in the classroom that give them pause. They freeze in the moment because they don’t know whether or not the behavior breaks a rule.
So sometimes they enforce a consequence and sometimes they don’t.
The result is always more misbehavior. Because if student gets up during a lesson to hang up their hoodie, for example, and your uncertainty causes you not to do anything about it, then it gives the whole class license to do likewise—and then some.
Gray areas also expand over time. They widen as students test their boundaries. It’s human nature. Students will push until told no.
The solution is to first study your classroom management plan and decide the precise definition of each rule. What behaviors does it to forbid? What does it allow? Make a bulleted list or try this exercise.
Next is to fix it when it happens.
For example, regarding the student who got up to put their sweatshirt away, at your first opportunity explain to your class what exceptions if any there are to the “Raise your hand before speaking or leaving your seat rule.”
Define whether putting something away during a lesson is allowed or will trigger a consequence. Make clear where the line is so both you and your students know the moment they cross it.
In this way, you’ll have no more moments of pause and uncertainty. No more should I or shouldn’t I. Every behavior will be a blinking red or green light.
Making consistency a lot easier.
PS – Check out this week’s YouTube videos:
1. How to Get Students to Follow Directions the First Time
2. Why Good Teachers Struggle With Classroom Management
3. The Classroom Management Mistake That Makes Everything Harder
Also, if you haven’t done so already, join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.
