ERM journal question 8

8. Describe and respond to the discipline measures you have observed in your practicum experience.

            When children are being disciplined the teacher will ask them to go and write in the reflection book. In this book there are 3 options at the top of the page describing why they are writing in the book. The three options are I am writing in the reflection book because I was not being respectful, responsible and safe. They circle one of these options then describe below it what they did in detail. This sheet of paper is sent home with them in there take home folder and if their parents sign it and it is brought back the next day then nothing happens. If the paper is not brought back then they lose recess.

            There is also an agenda box. This is used for when the children are having conflicts with another classmate. The children will try and fix the situation and work out a solution, but if they cannot fix the problem then they write their problem/conflict down put their name and the person they are having a conflict with and put it in the box. On Friday, they then discuss the situations as a class to work it out and find a solution together. The children do not like being in the box and usually work hard to resolve conflicts on their own.

            Mrs. Afeld does a great job of talking to her children when they are misbehaving. She usually pulls them aside and tells them how they are acting then says how this makes her feel and asks is this how we are supposed to act. They say no then she says, “are we going to have any more problems with this?’ Then it is over. I love how she can communicate and eliminate the problem quickly with little drama or interruption.

            Today a teacher that is right beside our class came in and asked Mrs. Afeld how to deal with a disciplinary situation. Some child in her class had written a curse word on a paper about another student. The teacher was advised to send in two reports to the principle (or the person who deals with discipline problems). Mrs. Afeld told us how she handles situations when children are using inappropriate words. She said that she will pull the child away and ask them what word they said. Do not ever assume that the “s” word is the curse word to some children that stands for stupid or shut up, so make sure you actually know what word they said before talking to them. She then acts very dramatic and says do you know what this word means? They usually don’t, then she describes the word to them and they are usually shocked. She then asks them if that person is ________(whatever they said)? And the child is usually really embarrassed and wont use that word again. She said that boys talking about inappropriate body parts in a group if confronted get super embarrassed talking to a girl teacher and are ashamed and uncomfortable. I found these techniques very interesting and they seem to be effective.