The Survival Kit for the Elementary School Principal by Bergman Abby B.;Powers Judith E.;Pullen Michael L.; & Judy Powers & Michael L. Pullen

Author:Bergman, Abby B.;Powers, Judith E.;Pullen, Michael L.; & Judy Powers & Michael L. Pullen
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1994203
Publisher: Corwin Press
Published: 2015-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Teach Conflict-Resolution Skills

Conflict resolution can be a component of a school’s discipline plan. Teaching students to solve interpersonal problems on their own is effective and gives them lifelong skills. Conflict resolution refers to strategies that teach students to handle conflicts peacefully and cooperatively outside the typical disciplinary procedures outlined in this chapter.

Implement an Antibullying Program

Bullying is related to school discipline, and it is a widespread problem in schools. It is a problem, though, that can be solved, and the school leader is in a good position to spearhead such a program. Research from across the United States and Europe shows that when schools take specific action, bullying can be eliminated.

There are any number of commercial antibullying programs available for schools. Some work better than others, but one essential aspect is that the whole school must be behind the efforts. Effective antibullying programs involve everybody in the school community—not just the principal or a couple of concerned teachers. The administration sets a clear standard that bullying is completely unacceptable and enforces it.

When considering commercial programs, school leaders must think about which program or approaches would work best in their given school community. Even though the promoters of these programs claim to be “one size fits all,” principals and others need to ascertain what will work best. Often, a school-developed program with the involvement of all stakeholders can be just as effective (or more so) than a commercial program. In any case, teachers can weave important lessons into classroom meetings, “on-the-spot” examples, and discussions to help their students understand the importance of the program and how everyone has a role in it. Children learn that by taking care of each other, speaking out against bullies, and working together, they have tremendous power.

Implement a Character-Education Program

As is the case with antibullying programs, a variety of commercial character-education programs are available. Several states provide specific curriculum guides for this area. Sometimes, character is talked about in terms of citizenship. School leaders have an essential role in encouraging the development of positive, productive citizens. Before looking into commercial programs, it is important for the members of the school community to come together to define their own set of values and expectations. Sometimes, a character education can be the core of a school discipline program, though more often it is an essential supplement to it.

Develop Expectations and Make Them Clear

If your school does not have a set of clear behavioral expectations for students, it is a good idea to organize a committee to perform this important task. Give some consideration to the membership of the committee. Certainly, teachers who are widely recognized for having established effective routines for student discipline ought to be included. You might even want to ask one such teacher to be the chair of the group. A parent or two would be good additions to the committee as well, since their perspective is so very essential in formulating behavioral expectations. Whether or not to include students in the group is a matter of individual choice.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.