Classroom Management and Motivation

Problems as Symptoms Teaching deficiencies most problems can be solved “internally” behavior is state-related

Out with the old, in with the new… Old: student is the problem – reward desired behavior & punish undesired New: the teacher is personally responsible – Teacher looks for ways to engage students and make learning happen

Discipline Models Behavior modification Personal influence Logical consequences Self-awareness training Cooperative discipline “brain-based” discipline

What to do when classroom rules, agreements, or expectations are not met/broken 4: Safety Jeopardized 3: Student Choice Point 2. Handle the Problem, not the person 1: Invisible Action

When bad things happen to good teachers Keep your cool – revisit it later if need be Address problem with minimal “fanfare” Goal is to get class back to learning State facts, but don’t judge Good: “I counted you disrupting the class 6 times” Bad: “You’re constant disruptions make me mad!”

Motivation & Discipline a 1983 study by C. Hoffer asked 3,000 prospective teachers “What gives you the greatest concern as you plan for your first teaching position?” a 1983 study by C. Hoffer asked 3,000 prospective teachers “What gives you the greatest concern as you plan for your first teaching position?” many new teachers will leave the profession after one year because students are “unruly,” “discourteous,” “uninterested,” or “unteachable” many new teachers will leave the profession after one year because students are “unruly,” “discourteous,” “uninterested,” or “unteachable” most teachers have the skills to succeed musically, but lack the other management skills to do a good job most teachers have the skills to succeed musically, but lack the other management skills to do a good job

Terminology motivation: all the forces that keep a person involved motivation: all the forces that keep a person involved discipline: ways in which students keep motivation discipline: ways in which students keep motivation

What motivates students?

fear fear desire desire music contests/competition music contests/competition awards awards testing & grading testing & grading performances performances photographs & recordings (documentation) photographs & recordings (documentation) group spirit & camaraderie group spirit & camaraderie compliments compliments

Discipline & Behavior Modification B.F. Skinner – Behavior modification - “operant conditioning” people will like something if the consequence is rewarding (positive/negative reinforcement) B.F. Skinner – Behavior modification - “operant conditioning” people will like something if the consequence is rewarding (positive/negative reinforcement) Assertive discipline – spell out all expected behaviors and consequences (rewards & punishments, or bribes & threats?) Assertive discipline – spell out all expected behaviors and consequences (rewards & punishments, or bribes & threats?) Preventative discipline – focuses on avoiding problems altogether Preventative discipline – focuses on avoiding problems altogether

Three common approaches to discipline authoritarian – strict rules & regulations, enforced by the teacher authoritarian – strict rules & regulations, enforced by the teacher permissive – sets few limits on behavior – chaos is the norm permissive – sets few limits on behavior – chaos is the norm democratic – based on more “dos” than “don’ts” democratic – based on more “dos” than “don’ts”

What do you think are most common problems?

talking talking students who can’t participate (illness, broken instruments, etc.) students who can’t participate (illness, broken instruments, etc.) rehearsal & performance attendance rehearsal & performance attendance gum chewing gum chewing posture posture

Practical Suggestions for Discipline Practical Suggestions for Discipline teacher appearance teacher appearance teacher/ student interactions teacher/ student interactions professional relations professional relations use of teacher voice use of teacher voice class preparation class preparation eye contact eye contact sense of humor sense of humor discipline & reprimand discipline & reprimand consistency consistency student conferences student conferences positive classroom environment positive classroom environment

Conflict Resolution describe specific problem describe specific problem think of solutions – choose most appropriate for situation & those involved think of solutions – choose most appropriate for situation & those involved Document problems – Document problems – Ask for help Ask for help Keep people in the loop Keep people in the loop

Rehearsal Discipline pacing pacing preparation preparation organization & room set up organization & room set up rules should be posted, and simple rules should be posted, and simple eye contact eye contact

What would you do?

What would you do?? From page Walker, p. 61 “A choral member is slouching in her chair at the beginning of rehearsal. The teacher, in a quiet, offhand manner says, “Mary, please sit up.” Mary complies but calls the teacher just loud enough for the teacher and several students to hear. What would you do?” “A choral member is slouching in her chair at the beginning of rehearsal. The teacher, in a quiet, offhand manner says, “Mary, please sit up.” Mary complies but calls the teacher just loud enough for the teacher and several students to hear. What would you do?”

What would you do?? From page Walker, p. 61 “A student asks to be excused from a concert performance to go sailing with his father. The teacher denies the request. The student goes sailing anyway. What would you do?” “A student asks to be excused from a concert performance to go sailing with his father. The teacher denies the request. The student goes sailing anyway. What would you do?”

What would you do?? From page Walker, p. 61 “The teacher asks a misbehaving student to stay after school for punishment and the student fails to appear. What would you do if the student failed to appear a second time?” “The teacher asks a misbehaving student to stay after school for punishment and the student fails to appear. What would you do if the student failed to appear a second time?”

What would you do?? From page Walker, p. 61 “A teacher observes a student reading a book at every break during a band rehearsal. What would you do?” “A teacher observes a student reading a book at every break during a band rehearsal. What would you do?”

References Super Teaching by Eric Jensen Super Teaching by Eric Jensen Teaching Music, 2 nd edition by Darwin E. Walker Teaching Music, 2 nd edition by Darwin E. Walker

The Role of the Music Educator From: Teaching Music, 2 nd edition by Darwin E. Walker

Roles involved in Music Ed anticipating: foreseeing where program is headed, or how decisions made today will effect & impact anticipating: foreseeing where program is headed, or how decisions made today will effect & impact orientating: identifying objectives (instructional, personal, etc.) then getting them met orientating: identifying objectives (instructional, personal, etc.) then getting them met programming: determining what strategies will reach the determined objectives programming: determining what strategies will reach the determined objectives organizing: what kinds of organizational structures are needed to efficiently run the program(s) organizing: what kinds of organizational structures are needed to efficiently run the program(s)

Roles…. staffing: determining who can help meet goals & objectives. Can be student assistants, parents/booster club, peers, etc. staffing: determining who can help meet goals & objectives. Can be student assistants, parents/booster club, peers, etc. resourcing: knowing how the school budget works, what additional funding is available, and how your program fits in resourcing: knowing how the school budget works, what additional funding is available, and how your program fits in leading: developing motivational skills leading: developing motivational skills executing: following through executing: following through

…Roles, … changing: follow a “patient and thoughtful” procedure changing: follow a “patient and thoughtful” procedure diagnosing & analyzing conflict: finding problems & solutions – working as your own advocate diagnosing & analyzing conflict: finding problems & solutions – working as your own advocate deciding & resolving: taking action towards conflict deciding & resolving: taking action towards conflict coordinating: provide leadership in broad circumstances coordinating: provide leadership in broad circumstances

…and more roles. communicating: have channels for spreading the word about your program communicating: have channels for spreading the word about your program politicking: know the internal & external “power centers” politicking: know the internal & external “power centers” controlling: monitor progress controlling: monitor progress appraising: evaluate final results, and share these results with stake holders appraising: evaluate final results, and share these results with stake holders