There are tons of discipline advice out there. If you’re new to the teaching profession, it can be especially daunting to figure out how to handle certain behaviors of diverse learners. But discipline doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t need to be cruel. You don’t have to remember dozens of different techniques, methods and strategies. All you really need is L-O-V-E.

L – Looking for the reason behind the behavior. We need to think about what could be behind our student’s action and behavior inside the classroom. This will be important information going forward. They might be tired or they might have family problems facing on that day. We really need to look the reasons behind those behaviors.

O – Opening our hearts. We must remember that we may not like what our students have done, but we must admit that we love them. Instead of reacting, make a conscious decision to pause and breathe for a moment, open our hearts, to let love help us how to respond.

V – Validating feelings. Again, the way our students expressed their feelings may be wrong, but the feelings itself are never wrong. Let our students know that we understand how they are feeling, and empathize with him.

E – Exploring solutions. Focus on teaching your students appropriate behaviors rather than punishing them. We must get our students involved in the process of making their wrong actuations right. Problem-solving is a skill that teaches our students responsibility for their actions and gives them a great tool for having a successful life.

L-O-V-E is what our students need. So for the new educators or for those who just entered the teaching profession, let us L-O-V-E our students.

By: Kim J. Dizon