Rate Your Classroom Disciplinary Practices

Use Checklist from the "I Can Do It" Program

Analyze your classroom disciplinary practices with this checklist from the National Education Association's "I Can Do It" Classroom Management training module, a program developed by the California Teachers Association.

Begin by placing a check in the appropriate column after each item. Then add your points -- allowing 4 points for each "Usually," 2 points for each "Sometimes," and 0 points for each "Never."

Rate yourself as follows:

• 90-100 = Excellent
• 80-89 = Good
• 70-79 = Fair
• below 70 = Poor

Behavior	Usually	Sometimes	Never
1. I get students' attention before giving instructions.
2. I wait for students to attend rather than talk over chatter.
3. I quickly get students on-task.
4. I give clear and specific instructions.
5. I set explicit time limits for task completion.
6. I circulate among students at work.
7. I hold private conferences/conversations during class.
8. I model courtesy and politeness.
9. I use a quiet voice in the classroom.
10. I use a variety of cues to remind students of expected behavior.
11. I teach students my cues.
12. I enrich my classroom to improve students' motivation.
13. I impoverish my classroom to improve attention.
14. I am aware of the effects of my dress, voice, and movements on student behavior.
15. I use students' names as low-profile correctors of inattention.
16. I use proximity to improve classroom control.
17. I communicate positive expectations of good behavior to my class.
18. I have clear and specific rules that I teach my students.
19. I refuse to threaten or plead with students.
20. I consistently follow through with consequences to enforce rules.
21. I use "I messages" assertively to tell students what I want them to do.
22. I use "I messages" humanistically to communicate my feelings.
23. I respond to behavior I like with specific, personal praise.
24. I use non-verbal, social, and activity reinforcers.

Adapted from National Education Association's "I Can Do It" Classroom Management training module, developed by  California Teachers Association. For more information about this program, contact NEA Teacher Quality at (202) 822-7333.

Copyright © 1999 by the California Teachers Association. Republished with permission.