Behavior Crisis Management Tool #14

The Use of Delay as a Discipline Tool

Purpose

The purpose of this Classroom Management Series is to allow you time to make better decisions about the outcomes of inappropriate behaviors.

Examples

Mrs Carlos has had a very rough day with her students who are acting inappropriately in class. Besides that she is under stress because of other issues in her private life. As a result her patience is wearing thin and her energy is low.

Ramon, a student in her class violates a serious rule. Mrs. Carlos yells at him and punishes him with a very involved consequence that is not realistic.

Mr. Edwards has had a very difficult night and is not feeling well. He has come to class today with many things on his mind. A child acts up and he quickly responds with a very punitive consequence that is a definite overreaction to the incident.

What May Not Work

There is no doubt that teachers are human beings first and with that comes all the human frailties and issues that people struggle with on any given day. Consequently, these issues may be so draining that they pull away available energy from patience, a quality dependent on available energy. After all, the more energy we have, the more patience we have and vice-versa. What may not work in this situation is allowing yourself to not be aware of how drained you may be and how many issues you may be struggling with at this time. Believing that on these days you can handle things that may blind side you with good judgment is questionable.

Try This

Don’t be afraid to delay a consequence when you are very angry. The use of delay allows for a different perspective than that viewed at the height of anger. There is nothing wrong with saying, “I am so angry right now that I don’t want to deal with this situation. Go to your seat and I’ll deal with you in 15 minutes.” The use of delay will also reduce impractical consequences.

In conclusion, be aware that teaching is not a popularity contest but a responsibility. The opportunity to select from a variety of tools when confronted with a positive or negative situation can only enhance the difficult but rewarding job of teaching.

Next Part – Step IV in the Building Self Confidence in the Classroom Series will be: