First Grade discipline help, please!?

Question

I am a first year first grade teacher and I need advice, suggestions, hints, and clues on how to manage classroom discipline. I think things will all work out fine once I get that under control.

Answer 1

Dude, you need a different line of work!!!

Answer 2

When I taught elementary I had several methods, someone mentioned the stoplight one above, that works pretty well.

What I did though is I bought 3 cardboard signs.

The Green circle on top.

The Yield Sign in the middle.

The Stop Sign on the bottom.

Then, I put clothes-line Pins on the edges around the top green circle.

Each clothes-pin had a child's name on it.

This made it easier, less space, and I could just clip the kid's name on whatever part of the sign/stoplight I needed.

I also created "X"s around the room in different places.

Our Principal had a policy that kids can't stand in the corner so I circumvented that by placing spots with Bright Green Tape on the floor.

I put posters on the wall for the student to read while standing nearby that had to do with behavior and how to act and treat others.

Then, for issues with lining up the kids had a numbered order.

This stops kids from cutting (for the most part) and arguing about who was in line where.

:) Best Wishes.

Answer 3

I taught first grade for years.  I'm moving to kindergarten this year for my 20th year of teaching.

One important thing that Iearned in college that I used was to always reward before punishment.  Recognize those doing well and acknowledge them infront of the class. Like...., "I notice that Joey is getting his name on his paper.  Lucy is getting her name on her paper and I don't hear her voice.  Bobby is getting his name on his paper and he's writing so neat." etc......

I'd give rewards for good behavior like writing their name on the board with a star beside it.  Once they got five stars beside their name, they got a small candy.  I'd also give warnings and then after that take away 5 minutes of recess at a time.

Answer 4

Yes, love and logic is a great course. My husband and I took the course when our kids were young. You can get lots of resources on their website...

www.loveandlogic.com

I've also found that children act much better when they are focused together on a project or purpose so that they feel useful and important. A great community service project for this age group is The Pencil Project...very easy and rewarding...

www.thepencilproject.com

Answer 5

I agree with Stormybays; I love the positive discipline book. I also very hightly recommend the Responsive Classroom books (check the website) including "Teaching Children to Care" and "The First Six Weeks of School".   They help you to create a learning community where everyone feels safe and valued and everyone feels a part of creating the rules.

This approach works great in my classroom and in our school.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I used a stop light on the chalk board with cars, people, fish (whatever your room theme is) Each child had one and after the first warning I had them move to the yellow light then they got another warning, then they had to move to the red light.  Once on the red light I contact their parents.  

It worked well... I teach second now and use a different method :)

Good Luck!!  

Answer 7

I am a big fan of the following books:

1. Positive Discipline

2. Teaching with love and logic

Both books deal with consequences but also class meetings and building relationships. The postive discipline has concrete and easy to read ideas. Love and Logic is more for changing your belief system and some ideas for implementing. This book also has one for parents - Parenting with love and logic.

Lastly for a first year first grade teacher, I wish I had gotten this following book to help with parents.

1.  How to Handly difficult parents - funny and insightful!