Student Discipline- Week 6

Imagine standing in the high school office face to face with a discipline form in your hand after experiencing one of the worst classes in your teaching experience. What thoughts would be going through your mind? How would you approach this difficult situation?

I feel that during my time student teaching I have been reflecting on student discipline in a different way than the rest of my cohort members. When starting at Cowanesque Valley High School I told myself I was not going to be the one to quickly judge a student, or hold the actions they did in another classroom to something they would do in mine. I wanted to be the students "do over." I felt that's how most young or new teachers approach a school. However, I was quickly informed how it was not.

As a new and beginning teacher you want to have a foundation of discipline. In my classroom I keep my classroom expectations, discipline, and classroom procedures posted. Although I shied away from them, and I was then presented with an issue. This past week I found myself standing in the high school office getting ready to fill out a discipline form when I realized I did not want to put myself in that situation. I still wanted to be the student's "do-over." 

I evaluated my action to discipline and decided to make some changes. My action to discipline is now outlined in the following way:

1. Verbal Warning- Taking a student aside and asking what is going? Or what do we need to change?

2. Review School Discipline Policy- Remind the student of the school policy and exceptions of each student within the school. 

3. Contacting Parents-  Informing parents or guardian of the situation that is occurring at school in hopes that the teacher, student, and parent/ guardian can resolve the issue together.

4. Keep Administartion Informed- Administration always like to be informed of issues that maybe occurring with a student to watch for patterns, or take further action if needed.