The most? A book? Class, website, mentor teacher, periodical, magazine? And how did it help you form your discipline plan? I am trying to develop mine at the moment. This is a general plan, I don't have a job so there is no particular grade in mind.
Being old and having raised a son :lol: Try Fred Jones' discipline ideas: http://www.fredjones.com/ His stuff is available online and in bookstores.
The class. Every class is a little different with different needs, but my first class was a HUGE challenge! It took 1/2 the year for me to find the management system that worked for them and me. After I found that, it's been pretty easy to modify to fit each class that has come after. Some classes will need more boundaries for homework/responsibility, some classes will need more boundaries for talking, etc. You have to have a basic idea of what your expectations are, but be prepared to fit the needs of the individual class that you have at that moment.
Honestly? For me it was experience. I read Harry Wong's book, but it was largely common sense stuff that I had seen and done before. I had over five years experience in daycares, four of those being with school-aged children, before I started teaching, and that experience helped tremendously.
I'm high school. I realize that it's a different world from elementary. My "discipline plan" is common sense. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say ( to parapharase Dr. Seuss.) High school kids know the expectations. All I have to do is be consistent in my enforcement of them. It's all about fairness and predictablility.
I think many teacher education programs do not do a great job prepping teacher candidates in this area. Old Dominion University's early childhood ed program does an EXCELLENT job teaching classroom management. I was particularly influenced by Dr. Katherine Kersey at ODU, and the writings of Dreikurs, Jane Nelson, Linda Albert.
One source helped me FAR beyond all others. Observing several senior teachers in their classrooms. Both at my grade level (high school) and at the middle school grade level. The next one has been talks with my school's administration who has been very supportive.
For me it was experience as well. I worked for years in daycare with kids ranging from 2 to 5 years old. A class of 23 toddlers will eat you alive if you don't have some sort management skills. Even now it's often trial and error-some things work with some classes, won't work the next year. There have been classes where I've had to switch plans midstream because what I was doing wasn't working. I've read Love and Logic and Harry Wong's book and agree most of it is common sense. I think for people with really limited experience it may be a place to start. But observing teachers may be the best way to develop tools for your toolbox-even if it's what not to do.
#1 Experience and a lot of reflection Discipline with Dignity, Mendler The Quality School Teacher, Glasser Time to Teach (search for it on the www) any professional development by Chick Moorman
Common sense and Harry and Rosemary Wong's "The First Days of School" (which is based on common sense (smile!))
The First Days of School - Wong Fred Jones book Teaching with Love and Logic Various web sites including this one Experience - both teaching and parenting experience Consistency, consistency, consistency - best advice ever
