Discipline In the Classroom

Hannah Sutton
Gods Bible School and College

It seems these days classrooms are increasingly becoming regulated

right along with the rest of our country. Although classroom control and
discipline has surely been a problem in the past but with the rising issues of
broken homes, ADHD, and just the entire shift in our cultures mentality, it
seems to be more so of an issue that needs addressing. So what should a
teacher who has lost control of her classroom do?
Klista Storts with lifeway Kids Ministry 101(Jan. 14 2014) stated:
Classroom guidance is an issue that every teacher at some point
struggles with. We try every trick in the book be the good cop, be
the bad cop, ignore the behavior, bribe, threaten to get parents, lock
ourselves in the bathroom until the session is over, and so on and so
on. And some of these may actually work for a minute or two. Could
it be that were going about it all wrong?
Are we focusing on a surface solution when we really need to be
working from the inside out? To see a genuine change in a childs
behavior, in anyones behavior, there has to be a change of heart. Our
first order of business as teachers is to help kids see their need for
Christ. As you teach and depending on what age child you teach
realize that many of them have not come to that saving knowledge of
Jesus Christ.
I think Storts has an excellent point for the Christian teacher. It is easy
for us to forget our mission field in the classroom. Being a teacher were

given many responsibilities for the child, and the Childs salvation being the
most important.
Julie Dill, Moore Public Schools board-certified teacher and MetroFamily
Education Columnist agrees. Its important to allow children to become
active participants while establishing the rules, says Julie. Ask them for
ideas and give them a chance to express why they feel their idea is
important. This is another perspective on discipline from a secular point of
view. Although it is from a secular online magazine I think there is a very
valid point here. I have not had excessive amounts of teaching, but from
what I have had I can say I agree that when you make the students active
participants, they are much more likely to be receptive.
Bill Yost, Ph.D. (Jan. 2000). Laws of Classroom Management. Because of
the nature of schools, conflicts will happen and the unexpected will
occur. Teachers should anticipate, rather than ignore, these situations
that disrupt normal routines.
Take, for example, the school calendar. Events comeunusual weather
conditions, holidays, PTA meetings, concerts, plays, etc.and school will
still be in session even though the students (and teachers?) want to be
elsewhere. Unusual weather conditions are predicted in the Farmers
Almanac but are not usually scheduled on school calendars. But the
effective teacher anticipates tornado warnings or other weather
problems during certain times of the year.

Being aware of situations that are likely to occur is one way of

anticipating the obvious. Teachers should have a plan to follow when
not if misbehavior occurs. This plan will help them to be assertive when
it comes time to act and to be consistent when they have to deal with
a variety of problems. Thinking ahead about what needs to be done,
the effective teacher plans a course of action and acts affirmatively
when the time comes to carry it out.
The idea that as a teacher we should be over prepared opposed to
having situations where you have to look for supplies, page numbers, ect.
During situations it is easy to lose the focus of the students, likely more so
with the younger grades. You can avoid problems with students if you are
already ready for them.
Jenny Funderburke said in her article; Working with kids is the greatest
task in the world, but it is also exhausting! Anytime you are in a room with
children, you can be a minute away from chaos. There are no magic
answers, but there are certainly some tricks that can help you keep control of
the classroom.
Jenny Funderburke also listed nine simple ways to have more
management in the classroom in her excellent article. 1. Be over-prepared
2. Move around while you teach and vary your way of talking 3. Make lessons
interactive 4. Teach to multiple learning styles 5. Be a name dropper 6.
Move close to kids who are causing distractions 7. Keep the lesson moving

8. Avoid power struggles 9. Choose which behaviors to ignore and behaviors

to stop. I found this article to be very helpful. Although I have already
discussed some of the listed things to do with discipline in the classroom I do
want to expand one.
As it has been said earlier in my paper we need to worry more about
the heart of the issue. The teacher should prepare ways to avoid the need for
discipline. I think one way this can be done through making the lessons
interactive. If you as the teacher are holding your students attention, they
are less likely to act out. Get your students moving. If you expect kids to sit
in a chair for an hour, you are setting your expectations too high especially
for the lower grades. Design the lessons so that the students are able move,
talk, laugh, and play while they learn. Kids will find a way to have fun.
Create lessons that let them have fun your way. Jenny Funderburke
Jody Capehart 4 Essential Strategies for Classroom Discipline
made some convicting points in her article: Rely on God. Ground your
discipline strategy in Gods Word. Hebrews 12:11 says, No discipline is
enjoyable while it is happening-its painful! But afterward, there will be
a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Children usually dont view discipline as training in right living, though.
They often interpret strictness as meanness. Although the former is
okay, the latter is never appropriate.

A discipline policy is really a discipleship process that allows us

to demonstrate Jesus love. Although we may not like everything
children do each moment, we always love them. They need to hear
and feel that from us often. Adults character and conduct are very
contagious to children, who learn more from how we act than what we
say. So its important to respond in a Christian manner rather than
react in the flesh. When we adults rely on God to model respect,
manners, concern for others, and a gentle spirit, we teach volumes.
Discipline is far more effective when you move slowly and
quietly, praying for Gods guidance. Prayer is the Christian version of
counting to 10. It slows down our human reactions, puts things in
proper perspective, and gives the Holy Spirit opportunity to work. In
our weakness, God can use us to glorify him.
Donovan Hadaway (Sep. 2001).The Crucial Need for Acceptance:
Have you ever had a student tell you that the most important thing in
the world to him was his friends? I have had that experience, on more
than one occasion. I understand now that one of my most important
ministries to my students is to show unconditional acceptance,
regardless of their grades, popularity, or even their level of spirituality.
To accept a student for who he is, at his own level, fulfills the key role
of a shepherd. That is a necessary step in helping the student steer
away from less trustworthy influences.

On the other hand, even the best shepherd cannot be everywhere at

once. If you are seeking to eliminate even the possibility of a friendship
gone wrong, you would have to go somewhere where there are no
peoplebecause where there are people, there are friendships. Take
comfort in the fact that friends are an influencenot a ball and chain.
We sin because we choose to sin, whether we are led to wickedness or
strike out on our own. The heart is the seat of all wickedness (James
4:1, 8). It doesnt matter if you are child or adult. Nobody can make
you sin except you.
In conclusion as Christian educators it is important that we rely on God for
help. The job of a teacher is hard and has so much responsibility. No matter
the child or situation we always show the love of Jesus to our students in the
discipline.

Bibliography
Bill Yost, Ph.D. (Jan. 2000). Laws of Classroom Management. Retrieved from:
https://www.bjupress.com/resources/articles/t2t/more-laws-of-classroommanagement.php
Fania Davis (Feb 19, 2014). Discipline With Dignity: Oakland Classrooms Try
Healing Instead of Punishment Retrieved from: Yes! Magazine

Donovan Hadaway (Sep. 2001).The Crucial Need for Acceptance Retrieved

from: https://www.bjupress.com/resources/articles/t2t/the-crucial-need-foracceptance.php
Jody Capehart 4 Essential Strategies for Classroom Discipline Retrieved from:
http://www.churchleaders.com/children/childrens-ministry-how-tos/146754essential-strategies-for-classroom-management.html
Jenny Funderburke (Sep 28 2014). 10 Classroom Management Tricks That
Work Retrieved from: http://ministry-to-children.com/classroommanagement-tricks/
Klista Storts (January 14 2014). From Chaos to Control in Your Classroom
Retrieved from: http://www.lifeway.com/kidsministry/2014/01/14/from-chaosto-control-in-your-classroom/
June Allan Corrigan (January 2012) Classroom-Proven Discipline Tactics that
You Can Use at Home Retrieved from:
http://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/January-2012/Classroom-ProvenDiscipline-Tactics-that-You-Can-Use-at-Home/