Book: Setting Limits in the Classroom

Setting Limits in the Classroom: How to Move Beyond the Classroom Dance of Discipine (1996 edition)
by Robert J. Mackenzie

Very informative and helpful book on classroom management.

So what is the "classroom dance of discipline"?
The classroom dance of discipline is the back-and-forth power struggle between teachers and students (the "testers") who do not comply to the teacher's classroom rules. The classroom dance of discipline represents all ineffective classroom management attempts.

Some main ideas of the book:
- "Effective is one of the easiest, least expensive, and least time-consuming forms of classroom management, but many teachers overlook the importance of this structure in the beginning of the year."
-There are 3 approaches to teaching rules: permissive approach (respectful but not firm), the punitive approach (firm but not respectful), and the democratic approach (both firm and respectful. The permissive approach has the teacher giving in too much and verbally repeating warnings and not enough action-based discipline. The punitive approach is too strict and disrespectful though it does get the action done, it can lead to negative emotions on the student's part. The democractic approach is the correct approach that balances being firm/strict and being respectful.
- There were 2 procedures that I thought would be quite useful in stopping power struggles before they begin: 1.) Check-in procedure (Ex. "What did I ask you to do?" "Did you understand what I said?" etc) and 2.) Cut-off technique (Ex. "We're done talking about it." "Discussion time is over." etc).
- The main tactic for approaching the classroom dance of discipline is to offer the student only two choices to choose from and ending it there without further discussion.
- Encouraging messages are always beneficial compared to discouraging messages which tend to achieve the opposite of their intended effect.
- Use of consequences is extremely useful. Consequences can stop misbehavior, teach your rules, and promote responsibility by holding students accountable for poor choices and behavior (Mackenzie).
- Important guidelines for using logical consequences: use your normal voice, think in simple terms, before rules are violated - set up logical consequences with limited choices, after rules are violated - apply consequences immediately - do not wait or give multiple warnings, use timers for procrastinators, always start the student with a clean slate after the consequence is over.
- Homework is a system that involves students, teachers, and parents. With the cooperation of all three, homework completion is the most successful. There are two main reasons for assigning homework. The first reason is to practice the skills learned in class that day or to review. The second reason is more long-term and significant--homework completion teaches students about responsibility, independence, time management, and accountability.

Citation:
Mac, Kenzie Robert J. Setting Limits in the Classroom: How to Move beyond the Classroom Dance of Discipline. Rocklin, CA: Prima Pub., 1996. Print.