Six approaches to establishing and maintaining good discipline are presented in this chapter. All establish clear rules and expectations, all include recommendations for preventive measures, and all are positive and practical. They differ in the degree of control exercised by the teacher and in the emphasis on tasks.
Which approach or combination of approaches a teacher adopts largely depends on the teacher's philosophy, personality, teaching style, and teaching situation. Teachers should begin their teaching by learning one high and one moderate intervention strategy extremely well. Do not try to use all of them until a couple of the approaches are fully mastered.
Punishment is sometimes necessary to enforce rules and regulations. Punishment should fit the situation and take into consideration the developmental stage of the student. It should also be in line with school policy.
Preventive measures for maintaining and enhancing discipline are based on the need to curtail classroom problems before they become disruptive and affect teaching.
