Rethinking School Discipline

As we announced last week, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with some new members of the Rodel Teacher Council over the next year. One of those new members is Lisa Mims, whose blog, Diary of a Public School Teacher, is a great resource on personalized learning and Lisa’s journey to create a great experience for her students. Lisa recently blogged about her reflections on the #rethinkdiscipline Twitter chat. Read on for the highlights of her reflections, and click through to her blog to read the whole post. Thanks for sharing with us, Lisa!

On July 22, 2015 educators gathered at the White House to Rethink School Discipline:

“The conference sought to advance the national conversation about reducing the overuse of unnecessary out of school suspensions and expulsions and replacing these practices with positive alternatives that keep students in school and engaged in learning, but also ensure accountability.”

As I participated in the Twitter conversation #rethinkdiscipline, I began to think about ways we can avoid reaching the point where we have to suspend students. Just as we find ways to prevent illness using preventive measures, there are preventive methods we can use to reduce suspensions and expulsions. These methods are not a cure-all, but they can help stem the tide.

Here are my top eight reflections at the beginning of a new school year:

1. Build a relationship with your students. Can you imagine being a child who comes to school every day knowing that your teacher is relieved when you are absent? Many of us have felt that way about some of our students, but we can’t let them feel it.

2. Give students ownership. The students in my class can sit anywhere they choose, as long as their work is being done. Read articles or use tools that help you manage a classroom, so that you are comfortable enough to loosen the reins.

3. Be fair. As much as we would like to deny it, race and gender are factors in how students are disciplined. Our students are aware of the differences in the way they are treated, and it creates animosity in the classroom.

4. Give students a fresh start every day, every year. When I have students that behave in an undesirable fashion, I speak to them before they leave for the day. I let them know tomorrow is another day, a day to start again.

5. Hire teachers of color. Our students deserve to have teachers that look like them. Our students deserve to be taught by teachers of color, who may share some aspects of their culture that other teachers may not be privy to. They need to know that they can become teachers.

6. Give second chances. What is wrong with giving children a chance to redeem themselves, without harsh penalties? Why not give them a chance to see if they can turn themselves around? What might happen if we showed them that we believed it was possible?

7. Engage students. Don’t be afraid to incorporate technology in your classroom. Try lessons that make students think, debate, and talk to each other. Make connections with other classrooms, experts, and teachers.

8. Remember they are children. Over the past 30 years, I have found myself doing this more often than not. I try to find their passions. I try to make them leaders.

Remember to click through for Lisa’s full blog post and lots of other great resources on her site.