Excellent+article+in+Ed+Leadership

Laurie Boyd wrote an excellent article in this month's Ed Leadership entitled: **5 Myths About Student Discipline.**

As we are are all aware, handling discipline is the most prevalent issue with our novice teachers, and understanding these 5 myths is key to us becoming an effective support system for them.

Here is my synopsis, just in case Kim Marshall misses this one!


 * Myth 1: If your lessons are engaging you won't have discipline problems.**


 * Interesting and challenging lessons may reduce the number of disciplinary issues, but it is impossible to engage 100% of the students 100% of the time
 * Myth 2: Teachers need to find their own style of discipline**
 * The author states that disciplinary policies should be school-wide, and those who choose their own "style" are often teachers who have a fear of confrontation


 * Myth 3: Effective teachers do not have power struggles with students**
 * Expert disciplinarians do not fear conflict, and work towards having students acknowledge and work to improve on his or her attitude or poor decision


 * Myth 4: A school leader's attention needs to be on instruction, not discipline**
 * It is the school leader's responsibility to ensure a consistent system for preventing and responding to misbehavior. Leaders who do not do this must take personal responsibility for the lost instructional time.


 * Myth 5: The school code of conduct is an adequate building discipline system**
 * We especially help our young teachers when they have an effective disciplinary system to follow and are empowered through a coherent system wide policy (leaving the most egregious infractions to administration)

Lastly, the author lists a 7 step school-wide disciplinary program:


 * 1. Procedures and Routines:** Every class learns and rehearses these at the beginning of the year
 * 2. Common Rules and Step-Based Consequences**
 * 3. Behavior Interventions for Chronic Misbehavior**
 * 4. Student Behavior Plans**
 * 5. Team Focus:** Teachers meet and develop intensive behavior plans (if step 4 doesn't work)
 * 6. Second Step Program:** 10 day program in a "recovery room"
 * 7. School Within a School:** For those who would otherwise receive a long-term suspension

If you have gotten this far, thanks for reading! Dave Lyons