Discipline in the Secondary Classroom: A Problem-by-Problem Survival Guide [Hardcover]

Randall S. Sprick Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0876282486 | ISBN-13: 978-0876282489 | Publication Date: September 30, 1985

Proven solutions to 42 common school behavior problems and practical techniques for motivating and managing teens, including how to control talking back or swearing...incomplete assignments...fighting...cheating... smoking or drug use...violence or property destruction...failure to follow directions...and more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With its practical and proactive strategies for motivating reluctant students, preventing potential classroom disruptions, and managing challenging adolescent behavior, Discipline in the Secondary Classroom is an invaluable tool for both beginning and ‘seasoned’ high school teachers."
—Carolyn Novelly, resource teacher and behavior coach, Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville, Florida

"Discipline in the Secondary Classroom offers educators practical and purposeful strategies that work in every learning environment. Effective application of the skills and methods in this book will lead to student academic and behavioral success."
—Sharon Collins, principal, Interlake High School, Bellevue, Washington

"The ‘Crowning Jewel’ for all high schools from Randy Sprick, the premier expert on Safe and Civil Schools.  A practical, hands-on, and easily integrated approach to safer classrooms, schools and high performing students."
—Teri Harper, teacher, Tates Creek High School, Lexington, Kentucky

"Secondary school staff interested in learning how to use more of their classroom time for genuine instruction and less time reacting to discipline problems will find the information and ideas in this book invaluable. This is an absolute must for trainers of secondary staff as well."
—Laura Matson, program specialist, Learning Support Services, Franklin Pierce School District, Tacoma, Washington

"I am a leader of a high diversity high school that is establishing and implementing beliefs, rituals, and traditions connecting school learning to life skills for success for all students. Dr. Sprick's book was our road map for success. ‘a must read’."
—Jackie Lewis, assistant principal, Evergreen High School, Seattle, Washington

"This is a must have for all secondary educators!  It will transform your school culture while promoting productivity, safety and civility within the classroom."
—Gina Tomas, high school principal, Houston, Texas

"This book is the first classroom management tool I've seen that made an immediate difference in my class.  It's easy to implement and is an effective means of not only stopping misbehavior before it starts, but of helping students take responsibility for changing their behavior."
—Kelley Sullivan, high school teacher, Teacher Trainer of CHAMPs, Houston, Texas --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

This practical resource gives teachers techniques for dealing immediately with classroom behavior problems and developing more effective discipline policies and procedures over time. Included are dozens of useful management forms, letters, and record sheets, plus a quick and easy guide to solving 42 specific misbehaviors.

Improving discipline procedures
The first nine chapters provide step-by-step procedures for setting up classroom management system to teach even the most disruptive students to become more self-disciplined and cooperative. Here's just an overview of each chapter:

Beginning a New Semester gives you a seven-step planning process to help clarity your expectations for students and develop a clear, consistent discipline procedure right from the start...including a Student Information Form for students to work on when they first enter the classroom.

Effective Grading Systems describes the features o fan effective system and details procedures for designing one of your own...including a Weekly Record Sheet for recording performance each day and a chart showing Point Values and Criteria for Specific Performance Points.

Teacher-Student Interactions provides ways to evaluate and modify the interactions you are having with students...including a helpful Monitoring Form.

Goal Setting give you strategies for working with students to pinpoint specific goals and responsibilities to be achieved...including Goal-Setting Forms for students with specific behavior problems.

Class-wide Motivational Systems illustrates three reinforcement systems that help improve the behavior and motivation of all students and give you steps for implementing such a system in your own classroom...including a filled-in sample Weekly Record Sheet showing behavior needing improvement.

The High-risk students gives you steps for designing an individualized motivational system for a problem student...including a Daily Report Card and Behavioral Contract.

Punishment consequences exposes some common misconceptions about punishment and provides guidelines for using consequences effectively to reduce misbehavior.

Classroom consequences offers a variety of consequences and procedures you can use as alternatives to sending students to the office...including a Behavioral Improvement Form for cases when a verbal reprimand is not sufficient.

School-Wide Discipline Policies outlines features of a comprehensive school discipline policy...including an Office Referral Form, a Student Referral Record, and a Record of Teacher Referrals

Troubleshooting specific problems.

And the final section of this unique "survival guide" provides techniques for dealing with 42 commonly encountered problems in the secondary classroom...including a description of each problem, contributing factors, and problem solving steps.

Here you'll find ready-to-use plans for responding effectively to problems such as:

• Talking during lectures
• Forgetting to bring books to class
• Fighting
• Not completing homework
• Threatening to commit suicide
• Making wisecracks
• Feeling
• "Picked-on" by the teacher

The techniques in this section are designed to be immediately useful in the classroom, while the entire book may be used chapter-by-chapter for long-term improvement in student discipline and motivation.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass (September 30, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876282486
• ISBN-13: 978-0876282489
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #861,008 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

109 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Advice for any teacher, new or Old-Timer., March 22, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Discipline in the Secondary Classroom: A Problem-by-Problem Survival Guide (Hardcover)

I first found this book 10 years ago. The summer after my first disasterous year of teaching. It armed me with the ability to plan a school year with confidence. The practical suggestions on how to begin a new semester and effective grading systems made a world of difference in my classroom. My students no longer had to second guess my actions, and niether did thier parents. Since then I have purchased an edition for each of my 6 student teachers and all of my 20 mentorees.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proactive measures, July 19, 2002

By 

Bridgette.mom.teacher "baasassy" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Discipline in the Secondary Classroom: A Problem-by-Problem Survival Guide (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book for the secondary teacher. It provides an excellent starting point. It identifies ways to solve problems, as well as ways to prevent them in the first place. It also gives suggestions for grading, and ways of phrasing things such as classroom rules, without being too immature. Every new teacher should get this book to calm your jittery nerves!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical How-To Guide, Especially for Challenging Students, August 18, 2008

By 

Jan Peczkis "Scholar and Thinker" (Chicago IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Discipline in the Secondary Classroom: A Positive Approach to Behavior Management (Jossey-Bass Teacher, Grades 9-12) (Paperback)

Far from being dry theory or college-class textbook, this book is full of useful methods for dealing with classroom-management situations.

Sprick suggests, first of all, which behaviors to ignore. These can include comments such as "More junk to do!" Talking back can be handled initially by a mild consequence. This allows the student a graceful means of backing off. Individuals who talk at inappropriate times can be given a standing time out. Cheating should be handled in private, so that the student doesn't feel the need to create a power struggle with the teacher in order to save face in front of peers.

The author describes a classwide reinforcement system that can be used to gain control of a chaotic, unmotivated classroom. Points accumulate towards a student-chosen reward, such as free time, one class period outdoors, etc. If one student chronically defies the system, he is informed that he is no longer part of the classwide-reward system, and is now subject to an individual-reward system.

Sprick recommends the inclusion of cooperation as part of individual grades for classes with low-achieving students. For instance, the class-participation-and-effort grade can represent 60% of the students' total grade. Two points can be earned whenever students are quietly in their seats, with proper classroom materials and readiness for work, one minute after the bell rings. More points can be earned when all students follow all directions and attend to instruction. Students who misbehave can be fined individual points. The remaining 40% of the grade is based on academic content.

As an experienced teacher, I personally found many of Sprick's suggestions for classroom management to be quite useful.