Harry Wong
Management is not
Discipline
Theory Overview:
No learning takes place when you
discipline. All disciplining does is
stop deviant behavior, which must
be done, but no learning has
taken place. Learning only takes
place when the students are at
work, or as we say in education,
on-task.
Teachers Responsibilities
The Three-Step Approach to Teaching Classroom Procedures
Explain: State, explain, model, and demonstrate the
procedure.
Rehearse: Rehearse and practice the procedure under your
supervision.
Reinforce: Reteach, rehearse, practice, and reinforce the
classroom procedure until it becomes a student habit or
routine.
Procedures teachers should
include:
entering the classroom
keeping a student notebook
dismissing at the end of the period or day
finding directions for each assignment
returning to class after an absence
collecting/returning student work
arriving to class tardy
getting materials without disturbing
others
quieting a class
beginning of the period or day
asking for help
moving of students and papers
listening to/responding to questions
working cooperatively
changing groups
handing out equipment at recess
moving about the room
going to the library/tech center
heading of papers
Teacher Actions
Ineffective teachers begin the first day of
school attempting to teach a subject and
spend the rest of the school year running after
the students.
Effective teachers spend most of the first two
weeks of the school year teaching students to
follow classroom procedures.
Students Responsibilities
Learn classroom procedures
Follow classroom procedures
Pros & Cons of Harry Wong
PROS
Harry Wong and his wife Rosemary have written
the best selling self-published book ever in
education, The First Days of School
Produced the video series, The Effective Teacher,
which won the Telly Award for being the best
EDU staff development video of the past 20 yrs.
Known very well for his strive to push for an
“effective teacher” among education.
- Making sure that the teacher is acquiring the classroom
to be well managed but has structured discipline
in order for learning to be successful and for
teachers to get satisfaction
CONS
Main disadvantage= its rigidity
-Doesn’t take the differences individual
students need or unexpected
events into account
-Teachers may struggle with the
adaptation to student needs and
behavior
-Opportunities to help each student
develop their personal potential
may be overloaded
Harry Wong: Key Vocabulary
Management: ensuring that classroom lessons run smoothly
despite the disruptive behaviors made by students
Mastery: having all students learn instructional material on
the slightly higher levels, also the “breakdown” of the
material to where students comprehend
Expectations: will influence a students’ achievement and
everyday skills throughout each of their lives
Grade curve: Wong says, “This has done more harm to
education than any technique has.”
Harry Wong: Key Vocabulary
Dr. Wong said that the 3 most important things that should be
taught within the 1st week of a school year are…
1.
Discipline: make sure to set rules, consequences, and
rewards immediately to enforce the discipline starting at day
1
2.
Procedures: state your procedures for the classroom and
have the students rehearse them until they become their
routine
3.
Routines: allow the students to get into the routine enough
to where it becomes a daily “good” habit
References
Visit the websites:
www.thebusyeducator.com/harrywong
www.effectiveteaching.com