discipline, classroom management

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discipline, classroom management
By cathy-dee

I reread your post a couple of times so I hope I'm on the right wavelength.

From what I'm reading, you get along with your co-worker, although there are many in your school who do not like her for some reason. I would
keep this in the back of my mind, not let it overly influence me, but be cautious all the same. Sometimes at the beginning of a work year a teacher can be great, etc., but if she has the reputation she has, she has done something most likely to earn it. She may not have, which is why I'm glad you are keeping an open mind. But you also want to be cautious in case it is true.
Now on to

the main concern. Sounds like your Principal is doing what he should be doing. We don't always like their methods. From what I'm understanding, students who do major offenses should be written up and sent to the office. But minor offenses should be handled by the teachers. This is common in many schools. I do not know how large your school is, but imagine a school with 10 classes. If each class sent 15 referrals a day, WOW! The principal would have no time to do any of his other duties.

Now as far as chewing you out - I'm guessing (and I could be wrong, but this is what I see).

- he does not like minor offenses reported to him
- he wants his teachers to handle basic classroom management themselves
- he probably does not like the fact this other teacher sends so many referrals, but has realized over the years that she is not going to change
- he is reprimanding you in hopes that you will not follow in her footsteps (so to speak)

First I wouldn't compare yourself to her. I'm assuming you are a first or second year teacher since this board is for newer teachers. One you need experience - classroom management is not something you just learn and have for the rest of your career - it is something that evolves with experience. Things you may warn on several times this year, you may be tougher on next year. You need to develop your own style and not look to this other teacher as to how she is doing something. It may not hurt to ask if you could go to a neighbouring school to observe things for a day or even 1/2 day. You might see some new strategies that would work for you. While being "nice" is good, it can backfire as well. Your students need to know that they cannot continue "negative" behaviours over and over until you finally write them up. Are there punishments you can give them yourself. Develop a 3-tiered system. First warning is just a warning, second warning is a punishment from you - time-out, missing 1/2 of recess, etc., third warning they are written up. If you do this for just a week and your students realize you mean business, you will find you will spend much less time warning over and over again. And it's important to be consistent. I'm the "nice" teacher as well, I don't like punishing my kids over little things. But I have learned over the years that I need to be "mean" for the first month or so until all these little behaviors become a thing of the past. Once the kids know I mean business and that my warnings carry merit, they tend to behave and we get so much more work done.

- what do the other teachers do... if they all seem to be doing things fine and getting along with the Principal, I would be trying to learn their methods and follow them rather than your co-teacher.

- if you are not totally sure of what is reasonable or not, or why this other teacher writes up so much more often (at least from what you see), why not talk with your Principal. Do it from a "I would like to improve in this area" approach. Most principals love teachers who say they want to improve in what they are doing. Tell him that you are not always sure what to write up and when because you see your co teacher write up things you probably wouldn't, and yet you feel you are supposed to keep things similar between her room and yours and you don't know where to draw the line. He should hopefully give you better guidelines and perhaps some hints as to what he is expecting.
It's not a guarantee, but at least you have covered your tracks, made yourself available for improvement and allowed him the responsibility of helping you.