Reasons why I don't send my students to the Principal's Office

As a teacher, I am not blind to acknowledging that there are many students that have behavior issues. However, far too often, I pass administrator's offices seeing the same students in there day after day, which is an issue. Here are my reasons why I don't send my students to the principal's office:

1. Pawning a student off on an administrator only hurts your own classroom management game.

Let's be real. Administrators have A TON on their plate, a lot that we don't know is even on their plate, so sending the same student to them day after day won't be beneficial for little Andy or to your administration. Handle it yourself. This is your job, your role. The more you send Andy to the office, the less respect Andy has for you. Think about it from your own view; as an adult if your authoritative figure doesn't handle situations, how does it make YOU feel? This also regards to putting the discipline onto the parents' plates. I'm not saying don't get your parent's involved...I'm saying this is YOUR classroom YOU deal with it. You can't rely on others to provide boundaries for yourself. Your student needs to know the boundaries set within those four walls of yours. Your student needs to know not only who is in charge during those 8-9 hours, but also who is going to be standing next to them for the long haul. Hopefully, after you read this, it'll be you.

2. You're not committing to your role of creating a "family environment".

As a teacher, you (should be) are committed to making your classroom into a family environment at all costs. This is rule numero uno for if you want to build trust with your student and for them to ultimately learn to their highest potential. Because lets face it, kids WANT to please you...especially if they trust and love you. I want you to step into that child's shoes for a moment, obviously they are acting out for a reason or with a purpose. I'm not saying you have to be a psychologist, I'm saying find out what is making this kid tick and face it. Be open to the fact that this 7 year old has a past, already. Not all lower socioeconomic students are the ones who come in wrecked and abandoned.

Make that connection with that child. Please don't give up on them. (I know that's hard when they are trying to stab you with scissors, but bare with me!) Somebody has to be the light for these kids, fortunately for you...you're the flame and fire of your classroom. SO BE THE LIGHT! :)

3. Make school worth their while.

Make learning FUN. I guarantee that if you make learning something active and exciting, that child will want to participate and follow the rules in order to play. Now I'm not saying this will happen over night, but what I AM saying is once your student knows what is expected of him/her in order to participate, something in them clicks. I once read a quote that stated, "If there was no school and your students had to PAY to come to your class, would they?" ---WOW. Eye opening huh? My guess is, if you're always sending Johnny to the office...he probably would never pay to sit in your class.

3. Positive Reinforcements are gold.

We all know this. If you work in elementary you know this can be tricky. The trick is to have at LEAST 3 positive classroom management systems going at all times. (Mostly to keep them on their toes and excited!) Right now in my classroom I have 4 and 1 system for team tables. Don't always resort to moving a clip down, not that I'm saying you should never do this because believe me there are *definitely* times that you should. What I AM saying is, ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE. The more you focus on the positive things that kids does, the more they pick up on it. Good always wins.

4. You have to love your student.

Period. Find SOMETHING. But honestly, if you can't find anything to love about your student....you're in the wrong profession. I know that it is not always sunshine and rainbows, I get it, but these little humans are looking up to you every day. It's us who shows them how to handle situations correctly and when you shove their behavior problems onto someone else....chances are their behavior problems are continuing because of you. If you wouldn't give up on your own children, don't give up on the 22 that are in your room, because chances are you might be the only (positive, loving, forgiving) parental figure they have.

I know times are tough and sometimes you need that ONE kid to be out of your room for just a moment, but I'm seriously asking you to consider taking a breath and just take a day to get to know your kids. I know the world is pressured with standards and testing, but if you truly value the lives of your kids and your profession, make your life easier and make it happen. The world can't change without you!

Always,