Group Lessons - Discipline

Ok – here we go.  Because, let’s be honest, sometimes you just have to tell someone off.

Firstly, don’t be afraid of doing it.  If one kid is annoying you, chances are they’re also annoying someone else in the class.  It’s not fair on those who want to learn if someone is disrupting them.  And as scary it may seem, don’t be afraid to tell them off even if their parents are in the room.  This is your class, you’re in charge, it’s your right to have a class who are behaving themselves.  Most of the time, a reminder to “focus” or “pay attention” is enough.  Telling students they are interrupting others’ learning is effective too.

Don’t be afraid of letting students know you’re annoyed or even angry with them.  If you’re addressing an entire class, it’s best not to name specific names, or tar the entire class with the naughty brush, but sometimes you have to let them know you assign homework for a reason, or their behaviour when waiting outside was not appropriate.

Depending on the circumstance, I’ve sent a student out of the room.  This is a last resort, but in a situation where one student kicked another between the legs for winning a game, I think you’ll agree it was justified!  In this kind of situation, it’s important to remove the offending student so you can focus on the well-being of the class.

If it gets this serious, I will talk to the parents (if they’re there) or contact them after the class.  They need to know if their child is playing up.  Mostly, they will be understanding, and have a word with their child.

With very little kids, I will get them to sit beside me and state firmly that I need them there to keep an eye on them.  I take away instruments if they continue to play when I’ve asked them to stop.  Little children react very well to comments like: “I like the way Josh is sitting up nice and straight” or “I like how Eli puts his recorder down gently”.  Children want to please, and so a comment like this will get them all sitting up nicely! 

One more word on repeat offenders: try to catch them doing something well.  At least once in the lesson.  If all your attention to them is negative, that’s all they’ll expect and to get your attention they know they have to be naughty.  If you catch them being good, and acknowledge that to the rest of the class, that child will know that you do actually like them.