Doyle
Doyle
ABSTRACT
This paper reviews concepts and research findings on
classroom management techniques and explores how these techniques are
related to student discipline strategies. The first section surveys
descriptive and experimental research recently accumulated on
classroom management practice, concentrating on strategies for
monitoring and guiding classroom activity systems. Classroom
activities research confirms the relationship of different activity
types, classroom physical characteristics, and student choice and
mobility to student (mis)behavior and the classroom management
demands made on teachers. Management is a cognitiwe activity based on
a teacher's knowledge of classroom event trajectories and the way
certain actions will affect situations. Specific management skills
are useless without this basic understanding of classrooms. The
second section focuses on classroom rules, procedures, and common
discipline forms, particularly reprimands and other "desists" to keep
order. Research suggests that classroom rules and procedures must be
both announced and enforced, and that rule making involves complex
interaction processes and negotiatiors of meaning. The third section
examines punishment and supension's effectiveness as discipline
strategies for serious classroom disruptions. Also discussed is the
applicability of behavior modification procedures to classroom
settings. The concluding section evaluates the state of classr000m
management and discipline research and identifies implications for
research and practice. (92 references) (MLH)
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SCOPE OF INTEREST NOTICE
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
Walter Doyle
University of Arizona
Student Discipline
Walter Doyle
University of Arizona
3
Classroom Management
from research on classroom order are summarized (for details, see Doyle,
1986).
Carter, 1985, 1986). Moreover, the enterprise does not readily lend
"activities."
Classroom Activities
5
.3,
Classroom Management Page 4
tion follows an identifiable pattern (see Doyle, 1986; Gump, 1969; Ross,
terms of
2. The physical milieu, that is, the shape of the site in which it
available to participants.
action structure that provides direction for events and "pulls" partici-
pants along a particular path at a given pace (see Merritt, 1982; Gump,
sources.
that threatens to disrupt the activity flow or null the class toward an
3.0.P..1G.TrY :
is
Weinstein, 1979).
3. The greater the amount of student choice and mobility and the
greater the complexity of the social scene, the greater the need for
overt managing and controlling actions by the teacher (Kounin & Gump,
1974).
1.4 a ;".
Classroom Management rage 6
(see Carter & Doyle, 1986). When academic work is routinized and
In the early 1900s, Bagley (1907) exhorted teachers that "the only
first day thoroughly rigorous in all its details" (p. 22). Modern
order created during the first few days of school reliably predicts the
degree of student engagement and disruption for the rest of the year
activities and hovering over them until they operate automatically (see
Ball, 1980; Doyle, 1984; Smith & Geoffr4y, 1968). Although few "turn-
8
Ti1/47 . 7.
The first assignments, in turn, are easy for the students to accomplish
Moreover, they are often based on work the students can be expected to
routinizing the activity system for the class (see Yinger, 1980).
Teachers repeat the same activity forms for the first weeks to
9
Classroom Management Page 8
events at the same time) had high levels of work involvement and low
that is, they attend to what is happening in the entire room and how
well the total activity system is going. A group focus does not
(Emmer et al., 1980; Kounin, 1970). Third, teachers monitor the pace,
actor in the activity system, the more difficult monitoring and cueing
10
Classroom Management Page 9
worked with the small number of students who did not achieve mastery.
management and order for teachers. Arlin's findings suggest that highly
in classrooms.
classrooms and the way specific actions affect situations (see Carter,
schools and Hargreaves, Hester, & Mellor, 1975, and Smith & Geoffrey,
11
,
`Management Page 10
class, and the like (see Hargreaves et al., 1975; Tikunoff & Ward,
Clements, & Martin, 1981; Emmer, Sanford, Clements, & Martin, 1982;
Evertson & Earner, 1982) have indicated that effective classroom managers
12
Classroom Management Page 11
to have vague and unenforceable rules (e.g., "Be in the right place
at
the right time"). Moreover, they neither explained their rules and
13
Classrocm Management Page 12
consequences for behavior. Those results were consistent with those for
elementary classes, but less time was spent teaching and rehearsing
situational (see Bremme and Erickson, 1977; Wallet & Green, 1979). As
example, is allowed during entry and seatwork but not during teacher
substantially from that required for seatwork (see Au, 1980; Cazden,
activities (see Buckley & Cooper, 1978; Erickson & Shultz, 1981; Sieber,
1979). That is, order is achieved with students and depends upon their
rules, they shape, through cooperation and resistance, the rules that
14
ov
publicly with rule violations distracts attention away from the main
class. For this reason, experienced teachers tend to push ahead with
Carter, 1985; Doyle, 1984). [This point will be discussed more fully in
rule systems of classrooms (see Cook-Gumperz & Gumperz, 1982; Erickson &
Shultz, 1981; Green & Harker, 1982; Mehan, 1980). Although most
low ability students and students from minority cultures sometimes have
context cues for appropriate behavior (see Eder, 1982; Florio & Shultz,
& Milburn, 1978; Shultz & Florio, 1979) and the design of classroom
opening ritual for both elementary and secondary classes despite the
fact that most children seem to learn the classroom system during their
1980; Wallet & Green, 1979). It is unlikely that even third grade
students are learning anything new when they encounter rules on the
first day of school or that junior high students are unaware of the
of order and signals the level of vigilance and accountability that will
Students are thus able to acquire valuable information early in the year
rules and the more clearly they are communicated, the more likely the
ability to act when rules are broken. For this reason, reprimands and
rooms must be both announced and enforced and rule making involves
16
Classroom Management Page 1.5
'4.
student act that initiates a competing vector or program for the class.
them. For classes in which the primary vector is weak (i.e., students
are easily distracted from academic work) and actions outside the
tion during the last few minutes of a class session will often be
less, the teacher is the primary custodian of order in a class and must
.61-'1'
ti
pull a class further away from the primary vector and weaken its
tions occur early in response to misbehavior, are often quite brief, and
1976).
their knowledge of who is misbehaving, what the misbehavior is, and when
ment) are ambiguous and yet the teacher has little time to form a
managers plan for and invoke consequences for rule violations (see Emmer
Classroom Management Page 18
.4'
(Allen, 1983; Cusick, Martin, & Palonsky, 1976), test the boundaries of
ments (Doyle & Carter, 1984). In some instances, however, serious and
are needed.
deal in part with serious behavior problems (see Charles, 1981; Hyman,
20
ti
Classroom Management Page 19
classes, but consequences in such situations are not the issue. Rather,
suspension or even expulsion have been the most common techniques for
appears that these practices are still used widely in American schools
management strategies.
21
I i
least two considerations: for whom are they effective and what are the
ness and a concern for civility in classrooms (see Brophy, 1983). Emmer
Parke, 1970; Parke & Duer, 1972; Sawin & Parke, 1979) on the importance
was found that inconsistency in punishing young boys for hitting a doll
22
Classroom Management Fage 21
consistency.
hitting students with sticks, arrows, belts, and fists; cutting their
against walls. Yet most commentators, and especially those who draw
because the student gains attention and status among peers; (b) corporal
future; and (c) severe punishment inhibits unwanted behavior but does
ary results of a survey indicating that most school districts which had
behavior problems.
23
ti
students who need them the most. Moreover, suspension can be inherently
expulsion makes a school more orderly and effective for the rfa-t of the
(Parents Union for Public Schools, 1982) indicate that there is wide
it was found that schools with low suspension rates had high levels of
were used as a means of bringing parents into the school and school
than instruction.
behavior problems (Bee Garibaldi, 1979; Short & Noblit, 1985). More
24
Classroom Management Page 23
with the problems that led to the need for suspending a student.
Behavior Modification
surrounding this approach and questions have been raised about 4ts
Elardo, 1978; Emmer, 1984; Lahey & Rubinoff, 1981; McLaughlin, 1976;
O'Leary & O'Leary, 1977; Thompson, Brassell, Persons, Tucker, & Rollins,
1974; Walker & Holland, 1979; Workman & Hector, 1978). The weight of
25
S
behavior are impractical for individual classroom teachers who lack the
maintaining their effects over time (see Phillips & Ray, 1980).
strategies which enable them to guide their own learning its classrooms
(see Anderson & Prawat, 1983; Brophy, 1983). The emphasis, in other
26
Classroom Management Page 25
The need for management and discipline is most apparent when order
classrooms. Some junior high school and a few senior high school
27
Classroom Management Page 26
classroom order. Indeed, there are few studies (e.g., Metz, 1978) that
dimensions.
28
Classroom Management Page 27
punishment and suspension and that individual schools vary across time?
Why is this so? How does it happen? To gain this knowledge we need
least three cautions are in order. First, one wonders how researchable
hand.
Classroom Management Page 28
thinking about school discipline problems, ways that are consistent with
disruption.
30
Classroom Management Page 29
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' Classroom Management Page 30
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Classroom Management Page 31
Cartledge, G., & Milburn, J. (1978). the case for tearhing social
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Classroom Management Page 32
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Classroom Management Page 34
Erickson, F., & Shultz, J. (1981). When is a context? Some issues and
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Classroom Management Page 35
D.C.
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Classroom Management Page 36
Leeper, 114, & Green, D. (1978). The hidden costs of rewards: New
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Classroom Management Page 37
California Press.
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Classroom Management Page 38
28, 525-538.
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Classroom Management Page 39
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Classroom Management Pdge 40
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