MacGyver Biniak Personal System of Discipline

Basic Beliefs
C. M. Charles said that behavior is the sum total of all human action. To ensure that
students do not disrupt teaching, interfere with learning, demean others, violate the moral codes
of society, or misbehave in any other way, a well thought out plan needs to be established.
Creating a plan is important, but maintaining the classroom environment and culture is essential
for students and teachers to reach their goals. One of my major beliefs is that the classroom
should be a safe and productive learning environment. To ensure that students are in a safe and
productive classroom, a commitment to respecting others must be a priority. While I do not plan
on establishing a lot of rules, respecting others will be one of my major rules. This will be
established on the first day of class and students will have opportunities throughout the year to
understand what it means to respect one another.
Building off a safe and productive classroom environment, my classroom will consider
student feedback. One of my first activities will ask students to share what learning environment
helps them to be productive. Students will also be asked to share rules that they would like to
have in the classroom. This feedback will help me to produce a student-centered environment
that will assist students in that specific class. While all the ideas may not be implemented, each
idea will help to establish the classroom most effective for student learning. Student feedback
will also be implemented at the end of each marking period. Students will be asked to grade the
teacher and share their likes/dislikes of the class and what they would change. This feedback is
anonymous and will help to determine needs to be changed throughout the classroom. Students
will have the opportunity to share their feelings throughout the school year. These opportunities
for feedback will help me to structure a safe and productive learning environment.

MacGyver Biniak Personal System of Discipline

In order to limit misbehavior, teachers should look to build strong, supportive

relationships with students. While not all misbehavior can be eliminated with this strategy, I
believe that the majority of misbehavior can be stopped with a positive teacher-student
relationship. Several steps need to be taken to build a positive relationship with each student.
Greeting students at the door every day is a good step to help build a relationship. Not only does
the teacher interact with every student, a personal inventory can be taken. If a student seems to
be upset or frustrated, a teacher can attempt to resolve the issue prior to class starting. Having a
positive influence on students can also be done by acting polite and considerate, conducting
yourself in a manner that is highly responsible, avoiding negativity, offering encouragement, and
asking students opinions about an issue. Each of these strategies can help to build relationships
and eliminate negative behavior.
To ensure good discipline in my classroom, I will conduct myself in a professional
manner. My best effort will be given for each lesson, and activities will be differentiated to
ensure that all learners are successful in my classroom. When addressing the class, I will use
appropriate language that is positive, helpful and encouraging. Treating each student as a social
equal, worthy of my time and attention, will help students to understand the importance of
respecting one another. Collaboration and group work will be utilized throughout the school year,
so effective communication with students will be important to ensure all students understand
what is expected of them. Students will understand that everyone in the classroom (including the
teacher) needs to work together to achieve our expectations. Guaranteeing a professional effort
will help students understand that I am looking out for their best interests in and outside of the
classroom.

MacGyver Biniak Personal System of Discipline

Classroom Climate
Students will be held to high expectations in my classroom, but there will also be
supports to help each student perform to the best of their ability. My classroom will include
posters, maps, flags and class rules displayed on the walls to create an inviting classroom
environment. Students work will also be proudly displayed throughout the classroom. One of the
first activities I would have students do is a personal history timeline. This not only incorporates
their past, it also forces students to think about their goals for the future and what they would like
to achieve in life. Each timeline would be personalized based on each students interests. Not
only would it be a good way for students to start thinking about the future, I would also get an
idea of each students likes and interests. This understanding will help me to build a relationship
with each student.
I would like to establish a welcoming and safe classroom environment with a focus on
student-centered learning. My classroom will promote collaboration, social interaction, and
group work. In order to establish a group dynamic, students desks will be arranged in U and L
shapes throughout the classroom. Not only does this allow for students to work in groups or with
a partner, it allows for the teacher to maneuver throughout the classroom quickly and easily. The
ability to move throughout the classroom allows me to assist students (or groups) when needed,
without distracting others. When looking into the structure and environment of the classroom,
choosing the position of the teachers desk is critical. I would look to place my desk either in the
back or at the side of the classroom. This creates less of a hierarchy in the classroom and less
focus on the teacher as well. Implementing the clusters of student desks and the deemphasized
teacher desk will help students to realize that collaboration and interaction between one another
will be important skills in my classroom.
3

MacGyver Biniak Personal System of Discipline

Students will develop a positive attitude in the classroom due to my honest and upfront
way of communication. Students will have clear expectations from day one, but they will also
know that I will help them as much as I can to promote academic success. Students will be given
opportunities throughout the school year to express their feelings of the class, and suggest ways
to improve the classroom dynamic. Students having an input on the classroom will help students
to feel a sense of belonging, and show that I value each students opinion. Overall, my classroom
style will look to deemphasize the role of teacher, promoting student learning and interaction
while helping train students for the working world.
Preventative Discipline
A classroom that prevents and discourages discipline problems is the first step towards
minimizing the number of disruptions and reducing the amount of long run misbehavior issues.
The first few weeks of school are crucial to prevent misbehavior throughout the year. This begins
by establishing a personal rapport with students and clarifying rules and expectations for the
class. Adding interest and routine in lessons can have a direct effect on student behavior.
Interesting lessons help to keep students focused and on task, while routines help students to
become familiar with classroom procedures. By studying topics of interest, students can become
engaged in the curriculum.
To prevent discipline problems in the classroom, student needs to be taken into account.
William Glasser determined that all students share five basic needs (for survival/security,
belonging, power, fun, and freedom). If these needs are not met in school, students will become
resistive, resistant and disobedient. This behavior will lead to inappropriate ways to satisfy their
needs. To prevent misbehavior, a teacher needs to address each of the basic needs. The classroom
environment needs to be safe and free from personal threats to satisfy students need for survival.
4

MacGyver Biniak Personal System of Discipline

The productive classroom environment that I envision will help to ensure that all students feel
safe and secure in school. Students can feel a sense of belonging when they receive attention
from the teacher and other students. Students will have the opportunity to interact with others
through a plethora of cooperative learning and collaboration activities. Students will have a sense
of power in my classroom in several ways. Students will participate in the selection of their class
rules. Students will also have power in the classroom when they give feedback about the
classroom dynamic at the end of each marking period. A students need for fun will be
accomplished throughout the school year. Different activities (including simulations, debates,
mapping activities, problem-solving sets, etc.) will be incorporated in the classroom. Videos,
music, technology and other interesting tools for teachers will also be utilized in the classroom.
Finally, students will have a sense of freedom in my classroom when they have the ability to
choose the topics they would like to study in depth. Rather than having a week on that topic,
diving deeper into the subject with a two-week unit will keep students interested and excited.
Understanding and fulfilling each of these needs will help to prevent misbehavior from occurring
in the classroom.
Another way I will help to prevent discipline in my classroom is by creating an attractive,
inviting, and efficient classroom. Materials (paper, pencils, pens) will be readily available, and
the classroom will be neat and organized. These conditions help to show that the classroom is a
place for learning and students are expected to participate. I will also look to learn student names
as quickly as possible. This will help me to connect with each student on a personal level.
Establishing rules and guidelines in the first two weeks, understanding student needs, and
streamlining the classroom will help to prevent discipline in my future classroom.

MacGyver Biniak Personal System of Discipline

Active (Supportive) Disciplines

One of the main ways that I will actively support students to instill proper behavior is by
creating and maintain a good relationship based upon trust and confidence. Support and
encouragement will be given to students throughout the school year. This will help to build
confidence in students. Throughout the school year, I would like to share some of my interests,
experiences, and talents. Students will understand about my family life and what I like to do
outside of school. Sharing this information with the students will help to build positive
relationships. I would also like to be positive, upbeat, and pleasant. These qualities will help
students to understand that I am committed to making the classroom environment fun and
exciting.
William Glasser states that most discipline problems arise because students find school
unduly boring. My classroom dynamic will be different from typical classrooms, ensuring that
my lessons are not boring. Technology will be integrated into many of my lessons. Students will
utilize their smartphones and other devices in online quizzes, polls, and discussion questions. I
will also vary the activities in a lesson. While some lessons will involve lectures and individual
work, others will ask students to work with group members to perform a task. Millennials now
have an attention span for approximately eight minutes. To ensure that students do not become
off task and inattentive, each lesson will utilize several different activities. A variety of visual,
auditory, and manipulative techniques will be used to attract and hold students attention. Graphs,
charts, political cartoons, models, film clips, physical movement, and case studies will all be
utilized in my social studies classroom. Activities such as drawing, mapping, and listening will
help to facilitate learning as well. These tactics will help to differentiate my instruction, to better
facilitate learning for all students, and ensure that students are not bored.
6

MacGyver Biniak Personal System of Discipline

Teachers need to care for the wellbeing of each student. Psychologist Carl Rogers
identified three attitudes that teachers should possess to support students and help them to learn.
These attitudes or qualities are realness, acceptance, and empathy. Teachers should realize their
individuality in the classroom and show students that they are actual people as well (realness).
Teachers need to accept students feelings, opinions, how they present themselves, and not
demand that students change their personalities (acceptance). Teachers also must understand
learners without judging or evaluating them (empathy). Rogers also stated that teachers must
convey to students that they notice, respect, and appreciate them as individuals. Utilizing these
techniques can go a long way towards showing students that you genially care for them.
Corrective Discipline (Resolution)
If students are to misbehave repetitively, action must be taken. Rather than scold, punish
or comment on ones character, I would ask the student to repeat their behavior in a proper
manner. If the student was unsure about proper behavior, then I would reteach them how to
behave properly in my classroom and ask them to perform the behavior correctly. For students
who are having a difficult time correcting their behavior or are seriously misbehaving in the
classroom, I would help students to self-evaluate their behavior and create a plan to improve
their behavior. To evaluate their behavior, students would be asked the following questions,
What are you doing?, What are the rules?, and What do you want to do now?. These
questions will help students to understand their misbehavior. After a student answers these
questions, I would work with them to create a plan of action to improve their behavior.
Preventing further conflict can be done by implementing restorative justice circles. This
practice has been utilized by teachers in the Recovery School District of New Orleans. These
circles have students talk about the root of the problem and why they act in ways that could get
7

MacGyver Biniak Personal System of Discipline

them suspended. Communication occurs between students, teachers, and counselors. All parties
listen respectfully, develop a plan confronting the issue then sign a contract with the plan in
mind. Teachers understand where the students are coming from and students are more disciplined
as a result. Those involved find new information about each other and students see lots of
positive from these meetings. These practices can help teachers to better manage the classroom,
especially when conflict occurs.
Involving others, including counselors and administrators, is a good way to avoid power
struggles. If the infraction does not require outside assistance, students (and teachers) should be
calm prior to discussing the misbehavior. This allows for all parties to think in a clear manner. If
this does not occur, the situation can become out of control. In order to avoid a power struggle
during a moment of misbehavior, I would look for a solution to the problem rather than assess
blame. Acting as a problem solver will help students to understand that I am looking out for their
overall well-being. Utilizing these strategies will help to correct and resolve misbehavior in the
classroom.