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Discipline & Affirmation
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We want your experience as a catechist to be positive and energizing, so please consider the following when it comes to discipline and affirmation:
Communicate your expectations the very first day!
You can even create your rules together as a class.- No talking when someone else is talking (Respect)
- Remain seated and raise your hand when you need something (Respect, again)
- Be kind to others (Respect, yet again!)
Stress that making poor choices necessitates consequences.- Give a verbal warning for first offense.
- Write name on board for second offense.
- Send student to director for third offense, and contact parent.
- For persistent issues, invite parent(s) into the classroom to sit with his or her child (discuss this with a director first, however, as she may have other ideas to try).
Talk to the child privately to find out what is going on.
Perhaps you will learn of a reason for the behavior, which will allow you to form a plan of action with the child as well.
Try to be patient but firm.
Yelling is not an appropriate way to address children in a classroom.
Try to whisper instead of getting louder.
Try silent pauses when the class is off task. Turn the lights off and sit in silence for a moment.
Recognize GOOD Behavior
Recognize that behavior by saying something such as, "I like how (name) is listening to my directions!" Or place a piece of candy on the desk of an on-task child without saying a word. The class will catch on and want to get caught being good as well!
Use some of these great affirmations in your classroom:- Awesome!
- Good for you!
- Great answer!
- I knew you could do it!
- I'm proud of you!
- Way to go!
- What a good listener!
- You're a great helper!
- You're on the right track!
- Nicely done!
- Super!
- Exactly right!
- Wow, that's a great answer!
- Keep it up!
- Excellent!
- You are so kind!