Student discipline is a daily task for teachers. Many discipline techniques stress what to do when a student misbehaves, but there are passive techniques that can reduce the potential for negative behaviors. Teachers can promote positive behaviors by being aware not only of the classroom dynamics but also through where the teacher stands and the facial expressions used.

Body Positioning

One of the simplest ways to encourage good behavior in the classroom is to walk around. Moving among the desks or tables and interacting with students while they work enables the teacher to be highly visible and accessible to students. This reduces the ability for students to easily write a note to a friend or doodle during class while enabling the teacher to become more aware of the social dynamics amongst the students.

If students seem chatty, stand between them. It is difficult for students to talk when an adult is a physical barrier. This also works very well during assessments when it appears that a student might be cheating.

Since many teachers rely on a chalk or white board to write important information for students’ notes it may seem impractical to be constantly walking around the classroom, but motion can promote positive behaviors. Quickly walking from anywhere in the classroom to the board encourages students to look up and follow with their eyes. Their attention is then at the board when the note is being written. Once done writing, return to walking around the room or use motion to again change students’ focus to another location such as a poster, display or a student with an answer to a question

Facial Expressions

Sometimes a behavior can be thwarted with a simple look of displeasure. However, this can also cause students to laugh at the expression, leading the misbehaving student to believe the behavior was funny. Practice facial expressions in a mirror to find ones that are less humorous. It can take practice both in front of the mirror and in the classroom to find ones that are beneficial to classroom management.

Looking students in the eyes when they are speaking can be distracting and intimidating to the student. Unless the assignment or class requires direct eye contact, use that time to scan the room. Use direct eye contact with students who might not be focused on the speaking student. Direct eye contact can convey the teacher’s displeasure and give the teacher an opportunity to promote positive classroom behavior before the offending student becomes disruptive.

Passive techniques such as being mobile by walking around the room, using body positioning and body language to preemptively stop negative behaviors and being aware of the effect of facial expressions are simple and effective ways to encourage positive behaviors. This has the additional benefit of creating a positive classroom environment.