Lesson 1: Management, Discipline, and Control

Review

1. When a conduct issue arises in a classroom, it is not an instructor's responsibility to derive the cause, only to respond consistently and according to institution guidelines.

2. When a conduct issue arises that seems to point to a larger problem that may be of general concern, it is better to err on the side of caution and alert your supervisor or a special behavioral concerns unit if one is available.

3. Classroom management software systems are too expensive and do not always deliver what they promise. We should thus forget about them and direct our investments to areas that promise higher yields.

Clear Answers



Reflect

Here is a segment from a first-year language class syllabus, outlining attendance policies and other matters.

Syllabus excerpt

Now take some time to consider the following questions. Engage in a dialogue with a group of colleagues to see how other instructors respond.

  • Should we require attendance at the college level? Are language classes different from other classes in that respect?
  • What leads students to cheat?
  • Have you ever taught students with disabilities? How did you integrate them into the class?
  • A student continues to sleep in your class. You have summoned her to your office to discuss causes and implications. How do you proceed?
  • A student is disrespectful to her peers, rolls her eyes when they speak, sighs heavily, sniggers. How do you respond?
  • A student is obviously depressed. He is unkempt, does not show interest, and even though he comes to class regularly, he is rarely present mentally. How do you, if at all, intervene in the situation?
  • You have found out that two students submitted identical homework assignments. You call one of them to your office to discuss the matter. What do you say?
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