Guidelines that Work for the High School English Classroom

I’ve discovered that one of the best ways to communicate confidence is to be prepared with a list of guidelines which are distributed the second day of school. Gaining control and stopping interruptions for bad behavior is helped by giving a Cooperation/Participation mark.

1. Make sure you do not interrupt others while they are speaking.
2. Make sure not to call out. Raise your hand (not while someone else is speaking and wait to be recognized.
   
3. Do not have private conversations.
4. Listen to your classmates and teacher. Do not be disrespectful of their opinions. Wait until your turn to disagree.
5. Acceptable language is expected when you do disagree. No cursing of any kind is allowed.
6. Participation counts. We want to hear from you, and you will be given credit every time you take an active part in the class.

Gaining control is helped by giving a separate mark for Cooperation/Participation. The key to the success of this mark is that it is added in with quiz and test marks, and can help raise a student’s average. Keep a mental record of those students who are cooperative and participate. On occasion, to encourage participation, also note names on a piece of paper. But it’s simpler to give grades for participation based on an overall impression rather than to add them up on paper.

I’ve given other rewards out to students besides marks. I’d become frustrated by student lateness in several classes. Teaching would be interrupted any number of times by students walking in late to one of my early morning junior classes. Finally, fed up, I announced that any student who was in class on time would receive a surprise. Thoughts of a reward filled their heads; behavior changed so much that by the end of the month, I was able to give 75% of the class lollipops. No kidding, lollipops! (Kids of every age like them.)

Above all, a positive and caring relationship with students, along with involving lesson plans are the best way to minimize the need for discipline. You can’t, overnight, make up for years of bad habits including rude behavior and poor academic skills. You can, however, insist on appropriate classroom behavior and a higher level of learning. Demonstrate by enforcing the rules you’ve established. Your persistence will be rewarded.

The English Class Guidelines described above evolved from years of teaching and observing students.