5 Tips on Designing Your Discipline

Let’s just start off by saying that I don’t like the word “discipline.” So why is it in my title? When teachers are at their wit’s end, they will google, “discipline.” It was also the most asked about topic when I was coaching new teachers. To me, it should be called, “Designing Your Procedures,” but it just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Here are my top five tips!

I don’t pretend to be the Master of Discipline. There are many days when I want to poke my eye out with my middle schoolers. In fact, last year, I sat down at my desk one day, when the kids just wouldn’t calm down; I told them I was done, and they would be lucky if I was there tomorrow. One kid was brave enough to ask if I was serious, and I just looked at him. The class was silent for the rest of the period. I’m not proud of that moment, but I was also want you to know that even “seasoned” teachers have their moments.

Tip #1: Kids Need to Move and Talk

When you design your lesson plan for the day, figure out how to have kids moving or talking (even if it’s just for a minute) at least every 10-15 minutes. After I do my attendance question for the day, I usually give them a couple of minutes to get up, find someone to talk to, and continue with different answers for the attendance question. This first week or two, I make them get up (I tell them they need to get the blood flowing to their brains), and ask everyone their name if they don’t know them.

I also play a 5-10 minute warm-up game almost daily that requires them to stand up and do something. Other teachers might do a brain break in the middle of the class period. The games usually have them practice a skill that has to do with public speaking, but it is also creating a positive culture in the classroom because they are meeting new people. Stay tuned this year for more ideas of how to work these into your classroom, not matter the content nor the age.

If I just taught a mini lesson, I have them get up, find someone across the room, and go over what they just learned. Make sure that everyone gets up!

Tip #2: Find Your Leaders

In the book The Baller Teacher Playbook: How to Empower Students, Increase Engagement, and Create the Culture You Want in Your Classroom by Tyler Tarver (which I recommend), he uses the phrase:

Leaders for bad can be leaders for good.

I work on finding the leaders during the first week of school. I figure out who those kids are that are going to give me a hard time and make them my new besties. Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you get the point. I choose them to watch the class if I have to leave for a moment. I choose them to lead an activity. I also “volun-tell” them to help me demonstrate an activity on stage. Sometimes these kids just need to realize that their leadership skills can be put to good, instead of bad.

Learn about their interests outside of school. I keep a cheat sheet from the survey that kids fill out at the beginning of the year that asks their interests, and I stand outside the door when kids are coming in. It takes two seconds to ask that one student about their soccer game last weekend, or how their new baby brother is doing. You might get a weird look at first, but in the meantime, you are letting them know you care about them as a person.

An Example From Last Year

Let me give you an example. Last year, I had a group of boys that basically ran my room in this one class. They created this group with a name, we’ll call them the “Magicals,” and after a few weeks, most of the kids wanted to be a part of their group. They are all great kids, one-on-one, but as a group they could be rowdy. I deployed my mission of making them my besties. I went along with some of their jokes and antics when appropriate, and I didn’t try to run them down. At one point, they initiated me into their group of “Magicals” by doing a weird dance, and I just laughed. It could have gone completely the opposite direction if I had yelled at them to sit down.

That isn’t to say that you can let them run the room. However, as leaders, the other kids will look up to them. In middle school, friends and peers rule the world. Once you get those leaders on your side, the rest of the year becomes much easier.

Tip #3: Create a Way to Get the Attention of the Class

I don’t know about you, but I tend to tune people out when they yell at me, especially if they are trying to get the attention of a group of people. This isn’t a new idea in teaching, but I think some people forget how easy it is to get the attention in your class or a group.

I have seen creative call backs from teachers on YouTube or Tik Tok, but I tried that one year, and it didn’t stick for me. Instead, I learned a clapback from one of our social studies teachers at our school. I basically do a rhythmic clap, and the class claps it right back to me. This is their clue to freeze and be quiet. I keep doing this until I have 100% of everyone’s attention. I don’t have to teach it to them, they automatically do it when I practice it the first time.

Another procedure I use in class is to play music as the kids are walking into class. Not only does it create a mood, but they also learn that when I turn the music off, it is their clue to close the electronics, stop talking, and wait for me to start class. If only they would stand and giving me a standing ovation each time, like they do on American Idol. Future goals?

Tip #4: Choose Your Battles

This tip is the trickiest because it is the most difficult. Why do teachers get angry at a student or the whole class? It is usually because we feel like we are failing at whatever we are trying to accomplish. The other reason is we become embarrassed and feel like we can’t handle our own classrooms. What if someone else finds out?

It took me awhile to accomplish this tip, and I’m still not perfect. However, it is a helpful reminder. You won’t change every kid, and you won’t have a perfect classroom. There, I said it. You can let go of that goal now.

In middle school, these crazy kids like to test you. They’re teenagers, right? That being said, you can’t lose the battle, which is why you have to choose wisely. (Our administration went over this with us our first week, and it really stuck with me.)

Don’t Always Send Them Out or to the Office

There will be times that a curse word slips out of a kid. Don’t send them to the office, unless it was a name directed at you or another student. What? You have never let a curse word slip during class?

There will be times that a student will have so much energy that they spill their drink on your carpet or drop their Cheetos all over the floor. Don’t embarrass them. Just point them the way to cleaning it up.

There will be times that kids won’t stop talking. Clap it out. If a student is still rude, don’t embarrass them in front of the class. You will lose. Kids will save face no matter what, even if they know it will get them in bigger trouble. Ask them to step outside for a moment, and then talk to them one-on-one. Explain to them that you really like having them in class, but you can’t keep them in there when it affects the learning of others. I give them a choice. “You can stay out here and fill out this discipline form, or you can come back into class.” They always choose to come back into class. I usually end my “talking” with them by saying, “I still love you, and this doesn’t affect how I feel about you. I just need you to do better. Don’t disappoint me.”

Tip #5: Choose What Works For YOU and Ask For Help!

There is not one type of procedure or discipline strategy that works for every teacher or every classroom. You have to be willing to try new things and figure out what works for you. You should also know that there isn’t a teacher out there with perfect discipline. If there is, I would love to meet them and pick their brain. It’s okay to share your struggles with other teachers. Ask for advice. Have someone come in and observe you to see what they notice. It’s okay to ask for help! I hope this helps you to have a great school year.