Unified Front: Harmonizing Teacher and Admin Approaches to Discipline

Teaching is a team sport. But do you ever feel like using a rule book different from your admin team? One of the biggest challenges in teaching today is the disconnect between teachers and administrators when it comes to discipline. Here's how we can create a unified front, ensuring everyone—from the principal's office to the classroom—works together.

Build a Strong Foundation

Teachers and administrators need to understand and respect each other. It's like building a house. Without a strong foundation, everything else will be unstable. Here's how to start:

Open Lines of Communication

Holding regular meetings between teachers and the admin team can help create a unified front. These regular meetings between teachers and the admin team help create a unified front. These meetings don't have to be long or formal. Think of them as check-ins. Discuss what's working and what's not. Then, brainstorm solutions together.

Also, admin teams should use an open-door policy. This allows teachers to feel comfortable voicing concerns and suggestions while fostering a collaborative environment.

Shared Goals and Values

Teachers and admin need to align on the core values and goals for student behavior. Are we aiming for respect, responsibility, or kindness?

Once everyone is on the same page, developing consistent strategies is easier.

Example: Conduct a school-wide values workshop where teachers and admin collaborate to identify the top three values they want to promote. Once identified, these values can be displayed in every classroom and form the foundation of the school's discipline policy.

Be Consistent

Imagine trying to bake a cake with everyone using a different recipe. The result would be a mess. The same goes for discipline. Consistency helps students understand expectations and consequences.

Develop a Unified Discipline Plan

Create a discipline plan that everyone agrees on and understands as a team. This should outline specific behaviors and corresponding consequences.

Involve students in creating this plan to ensure it's practical and fair. School surveys or student councils can provide valuable insights into how discipline measures are perceived and highlight improvement areas. After all, your students are the ones that are being disciplined.

Professional Development

As a school, host training sessions for teachers and admin on the agreed-upon discipline methods. This can help ensure everyone is on the same page.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Instead of focusing solely on what your students shouldn't do, highlight what they should do. Positive reinforcement can be incredibly powerful in shaping behavior.

Reward Systems

Implement a school-wide reward system. Your reward system could be as simple as a points system where students earn rewards for good behavior. Add fun prizes like Lunch With the Principal or an Extra Recess Pass. When students see that good behavior is recognized and rewarded, they're more likely to repeat it.

Classroom Activities

Engage your students in fun activities to encourage good behavior. Role-playing can be a great way to do this. For example, have them act out a scenario where a student respectfully handles a disagreement and then discuss why that's important. These activities teach your students to learn and apply the right behaviors in a safe space.

Managing Challenges

Even with the best plans, challenges will arise. The key is to address them collaboratively and constructively.

Case-by-Case Discussions

Sometimes, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work. When an issue arises, discuss it as a team. Analyze what happened, why it happened, and how it can be handled better next time. Fine-tuning your approach based on real experiences can lead to better outcomes in the future.

Support Systems

As part of your approach to discipline, ensure there are support systems for both students and teachers. For students, this could mean counseling or mentorship programs. For teachers, consider peer support groups where they can share strategies and support each other.

Reflect and Adjust

Finally, regularly reflect on the effectiveness of your discipline strategies and be willing to make adjustments.

Regular Feedback Sessions

Hold regular feedback sessions with teachers and your admin team to discuss what's working and what isn't. Be open to change and willing to try new approaches if necessary. This ongoing reflection can help your school maintain a high standard of discipline and a positive learning environment for all students.

Working Together for Success

Creating a unified approach to discipline isn't about enforcing rigid rules. It's about working together, communicating openly, and supporting one another. When teachers and admin are aligned, we create a more predictable, fair, and supportive environment for our students and a better working environment for ourselves.

Written by Brooke Lektorich
Education World Contributor
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