Discouraging Inappropriate Behavior

Punishment should not be used carelessly. Punishment should be in place to

keep the classroom a safe environment for the students to be able to learn in excel
to their highest potential, which is exactly what is stated in my purpose statement.
That being said it should only be used when needed, and after every other method
to correct a situation has been tried. Students of a classroom need to know and
understand the hierarchy of things to come if the student steps out of line. The
students should be made aware of these things on the first day of class, when they
learn about the rules. This should also be on the syllabus, with the class rules, when
the students take them home to get signed by their parents. The students
themselves also need a clear understanding of this hierarchy of punishment. The
hierarchy of punishment is as follows:
1). Nonverbal Warning This is the one and only punishment in the hierarchy
that I do not believed needs to be on the syllabus. This would generally occur if a
student is behaving inappropriately during class time. What would happen would
be, I would walk around and be in close proximity to the student. Generally close
proximity to the student would halt most activity stopping the process and not
having to further on down the hierarchy.
2. General Reminder This is the first punishment that will be listed in the
syllabus that is taken home to the parents. If a student is causing a disturbance, but
its the students first time stepping out of line, then I will not single the student out.
Instead, I would make it known and remind the class that what they are doing is not
allowed.
3. Individual Reminder- If the behavior continues, and gets worse, I will
individually remind the student and reprimand the student as to what they are

doing wrong. That way, I would have made it perfectly clear to that student that he
or she has done something wrong and that they should stop.
4. Meeting at the end of class If the behavior continues to this stage I would
ask the student to meet with me after class. There we can have a discussion about
what the students behavior and also reprimand the student.
5. Lunch Detention If the behavior persists, the student will again be
reprimanded, but this time the student will be given a lunch detention. During the
lunch detention, instead of reporting to regular lunch with most students, the
student must stay behind and have lunch alone with the teacher. Typically this is
more than enough of a deterrent to prevent students from acting out in class
because most students dont want to spend their lunch period, where they normally
spend time with friends, with their teacher.
6. Call home - Once the behavior has persisted thus far, the teacher may call
home to inform the students parents or guardians of the negative or disruptive
behavior. That way the parent or guardian may be able to provide insight if there is
any additional reason as to why the student is acting out so much. The parents
might also be able to talk to the student during time at home about acting properly
during school. Sometimes students who do not listen to a teacher will listen to their
parents, which is why the call is necessary.
7. Second Individual Reminder If the behavior again persists, remind the
student of the proper way to act in class immediately following the negative
behavior. Remind the student that if the behavior continues, that they will be sent to
the office.
8. Office Referral- After the student has ceased to stop the disruptive behavior, the
teacher may send the student to the office where the student may have to talk to
the principal or the vice principle. There the principle or vice principle may decide if

the student should receive detention or not. From there, the students fate will be
determined by the office, and it is out of the teachers hands.