Discipline
First Discipline Problem
Description of the discipline problem
During a particular lesson, two students started arguing regarding a tackle which one of them executed on the other with the consequence of the latter being fouled. They started calling each other names and as a result, the activity had to stop since they were disrupting the whole group.
How did I manage to effectively deal with the discipline problem?
I utilized the notion of the ‘Talking Bench’ to tackle this particular discipline problem. This is a method which helps you to deal with certain discipline problems. Students who are arguing are asked to walk out and lie next to the court untill they clarify things out. As soon as they come to a mutual agreement, they raise their hands, apologise to each other and to the teacher and they carry on with the activity. I have put this notion into practice several times and it worked really well for most incidents.
Second Discipline Problem
Description of the discipline problem
During the first lesson of one of my teaching practice experiences, I had a particular student who stated that he does not take part in physical education lessons which do not focus on football. He affirmed that he would rather sit on the side rather than practice handball or basketball.
How did I manage to effectively deal with the discipline problem?
In the second lesson which I carried out with this particular class I made sure to amalgamate handball with football through an activity which I called ‘Handball-Football Game’. Here I divided the class in two teams. One of the teams were given bibs. These two teams had to play against each other in the attempt to shoot and score in the opposite goal which was defended by a goalkeeper. A point was awarded for each goal scored. One team was playing handball on one side of the court where students had to use only their hands. On the other side of the court the other team was playing football, where pupils were not allowed to touch the ball with their hands. After some time, teams changed ends.
As in the previous lesson this particular child sat by the side of the court watching his peers. When he saw his classmates having fun, he approached me, apologised and asked me to join in. I told him that we have to make a deal. This deal was to promise that he would participate in the upcoming lessons. He agreed and was allowed to play with the rest of the class. At the beginning of the following lesson he started to complain about the fact that it was a handball lesson but when I reminded him of our agreement he joined the rest of the class. During the next lessons, I spoke to him individually so as to explain some aspects of the handball game which he did not fully understand. I provided him with similarities that occur also in football since it was clear that he followed and practiced this sport. Finally, watching him being engaged in the lessons was surely of great satisfaction for me as a teacher since I did not only handle appropriately a discipline problem but I also managed to guide a student towards the attainment of new sport skills.
