Graham Richard Ninja Discipline Tips For Perfect Discipline PDF

GenkiEnglish.
com
Ninja Tips for

Perfect Discipline
by Richard Graham
www.GenkiEnglish.com
!
Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 1

GenkiEnglish.com
Ninja Tips for

Perfect Discipline
!
!
At this time of year half my emails are full of praise and wonderful
stories (thank you!) and the other half are full of tales of unresponsive
older kids, inattentive younger kids and every discipline problem in
between.
Invariably one group is using Genki English and one isn’t (I’ll let you
decide which!)
But whichever group you fall into, you always need a two pronged
approach to teaching:
Amazing material *and* strong, clear discipline.

!
Of course we’re not talking canes and beatings, we’re talking about
good solid teaching techniques that let the kids know what is expected
and where the limits are, all in a loving, caring, respectful & inspiring
atmosphere.
I always follow the rules I learnt in Tae Kwon Do, and they have
always served me well:
Courtesy. Integrity. Perseverance. Self Control.

Indomitable spirit.

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As I’ve been having so many emails, I figured I’d recap here some of
my best classroom discipline techniques.
These “Top 3″ are a must for *every* class whatever their age:
1. The Agreement – without a doubt the most important technique

you’ll ever use, you need it in every course.
2. The Bad Kids at the Back – using the “proximity effect” to cure
those rabblers on the back row!
3. How to get a class of perfect angels! – this simple exercise will

change your whole teaching.
Plus a bonus techniques for a more specific situations:
4. The helper! - if you just have one or two crazy kids in class.
5. The Agreement – I’m putting it in again as it really is that

important!
One more tip for teenagers:
Learnt from Jamie Oliver
“Always keep teenagers busy.”

!
“The Devil finds work for idle hands” is certainly a truism and there
is a reason Japanese and Korean kids aren’t hanging out on street
corners – they don’t have time! So keep your teenagers busy.
And one more tip in general:

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Never be afraid to fire a student.

!
Even with all the best intentions, some students will just simply
never work out in your school. In that case don’t worry about letting them
go. It’s much fairer to let them find a new path elsewhere rather than
keep them suffering in class, disrupting others and giving you super
stress. You, and they, deserve a (as far as we can!) stress free work
environment. We have to reach as many kids as we can, but we can never
reach them all. Help the ones you can.
OK, I think that covers just about everything.
Remember it takes time to learn these techniques, and some kids

will always push you.
But however student centered we make the learning, the actual

responsibility of the class is yours. You are the boss, not them.
So read through everything here and try everything out.
Genki English Rule No. 2 is “If you lose, just try again!” and it works
just as much for us as it does for the kids.
And at the end of the day do make sure you are teaching a fantastic
course that *really* helps the kids *and* makes things fun for them.
There is a reason we’ve spent so many years building and building

Genki English.
Discipline techniques can make an amazing class shine, but it can’t

patch up a sinking ship. So really evaluate every part of every lesson,

GenkiEnglish.com
every learning outcome you are wanting to achieve and every game,
song, idea & technique you are planning to use to truly make your
lessons world class and be the very, very best for your kids.
Because however bad some kids may seem, they all deserve the
best.
So be strong, have fun, earn respect and let the kids know that
everything you do is for them.
And I’ll leave you with just one last line:
A heart of gold illuminates the world, but on the inside

is as hard as nails!
Be genki,
Richard

GenkiEnglish.com
1. The Agreement
!
If you see your kids more than
once a month then this is the
most important discipline
technique.
It uses the Pygmalion Effect,

which refers to the
phenomenon in which the
greater the expectation placed
upon people, often children or
students and employees, the
better they perform.
But first let me tell you a story

from my own school days ….
My class at school was pretty well behaved really.
But one day we had a new temp French teacher.
We could just tell she didn’t have confidence.
So what did some kids do?
They pushed the boundaries to see what they could get away with.
What did she do? Nothing!

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So they pushed some more and more and more.
Each time they could see they were getting at her and it just
became a game to see how far they could go.
Eventually she broke down in tears and ran away. (Yep, seriously!)
It was really like seeing a bunch of wild wolves tearing away at her!
If you can sympathise with that story, The Agreement is what you
need.
It’s not all you need, but you do need it.
This one is tough for one off lessons, but if you see the kids more
than once it will be revolutionary.
So here we go … Bikers & Police
Whenever humans interact there is always a, usually tacit, unspoken,

agreement as to how we should behave.
For example I bet you’d behave differently to a uniformed police

officer to how you would behave with a young baby.
And you’d behave differently when seeing a dodgy looking biker

dude on the street compared with your best friend from college.
It’s just part of who we are.
We assess the situation, think back to how we should behave and

change how we act accordingly.

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Sleeping & Learning
For all its faults the school system has done a pretty good job of
setting up this behaviour and expectations.
The teacher stands at the front.
The students sit quietly in rows sleeping, sorry, learning.
The problems come when this breaks down.
Either from a lack of parents, a lack or parenting or even teachers in

lower grades.
They leave some kids just not knowing what is expected of them.
They have no frame of reference or experience to work from.
Or even worse they pick up the bad expectations of their peers.
How far can they go? Just what is allowed in class? What can they
get away with?
Even the best classes can succumb to this as we saw above.
Luckily this also means that even the worst classes can be turned
around! :)
And how do we do this?
By simply setting out, before we start, the expectations of the class.

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The agreement between you and them, to see what each side
expects of each other.
For example the teacher will set out that they will:
Teach really cool useful stuff (either for life or for exams) in a really
fun way.
Respect the kids and listen to what they have to say.
Next you set out what you expect from the kids
E.g. They will:
Act respectfully of each other and the teacher.
Always try their hardest, no matter what.
Speak up and keep trying.

!
For younger kids keep it really simple.
And of course for older kids it’s always best to ask them to come up
with their own ideas.
You’ll get the smart kids saying “We agree to sleep and do nothing.”
So have a discussion about it! Ask them if that’s really want they
want to spend their time on.
Usually though, it won’t go this far.
Most kids just want to know what to do and what is expected.

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That’s all they ask for.
And if it’s not there they will always act up.
We all want, and need, boundaries so we know what behaviour to

go with.
Yes they’ll still push you and push the limits, that’s what kids do.
But just stand firm and stick to the agreement.
And you’ll need some punishments to back you up.
Once everyone knows where they stand it will solve, not all, but a
great deal of the problems.
It sounds crazy doesn’t it?
But just like the proximity trick it’s just these simple steps that
separate the great teachers from the chaotic ones!
What I do …
Even now I always do this with every presentation I do.
And those of you who keep a sharp eye on the blog will have
noticed that whenever I forget then that’s when things go pear shaped!
You can even make your students smarter by expecting them to be!
I expect all of you to listen to what I say, but not believe it till you’ve
tried it.

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And I hope you always expect me to always try my best to reduce

your stress level whilst coming up with fun ideas to make your classes
even better.
That’s the way we roll here.
Keep the agreement and we all win! :)
Be genki,
Richard
P.S. A few people have asked how you do this if you don’t speak the
kids’ language, as obviously it won’t work in English. I’d always just get
another teacher to do it for you. Or get it written up on the board. That
can be just as effective. But remember, don’t do this in all classes. Just
the ones you want to be well behaved! :)

GenkiEnglish.com
2. The "bad" kids at

the back
Contrary to what people often think, a fun class is usually the most
disciplined. (Otherwise it would just descend into chaos!)
So next is my favourite tactic : Proximity!
Let’s imagine a traditional classroom set up.
The teacher is at the front with the computer.
The good kids sit down in the first row.
(They are rarely a problem so that’s cool.)
But where do the “bad” kids sit?
Yep, that’s right…
…on the back row!
But the question is…..
Why?
Are the comfiest seats there?
Do they have free gummy bears on tap?
Nope, it’s simply because that’s the furthest they can possibly be
from the teacher.

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Kids instinctively know that the further away from the teacher they
are, the more they can get away with!
So what’s the solution?
Simple, just move nearer to them!
And that’s the basis for the proximity technique.
It sounds just too simple doesn’t it?
And that’s why most teachers don’t use it.
They resort to shouting at the kids.
Sometimes even throwing things.
All whilst stood firmly at the front of the class!
Now think about the best teachers you know.
Where do they stand?
Are they always at the front?
No, very often they’re always moving around.
They slowly move up and down the rows as they talk.
They sometimes explain something at the back of the class.
Then explain the next at the front.

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The kids never know where they’ll go next so they’re always on best
behaviour.
Just like mixing a fruity birthday cake, you’ve got to keep the
motion going so nothing turns sticky and stale!
Sometimes a kid will get a little out of line.
So what does the good teacher do?
They simply move closer and stand by the kids’ desk.
There’s no eye contact, no harsh words, everything just continues as

before.
The teacher never misses their story, they just keep going on like
before.
When the student has calmed down they simply walk away to
somewhere else in the room.
They never need to resort to any negative punishments.
It’s all done with proximity – how close they physically are to the
students.
(One other beauty of this is that the “bad” kids often clump
together so you can get several of them in one go!)
So the next time you find the kids at the back are too chatty or not
paying attention just slowly start moving around the class, gradually
stopping by their desks as you talk.

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In the vast majority of classes it will make all the difference.
And of course, as with all Genki English techniques, only use it on

the classes you want to make better!
Be genki,
Richard
!
!

GenkiEnglish.com
3. How to get a class

full of perfect angels
This technique is best described in video (which you can see here
http://genkienglish.net/teaching/discipline-how-to-get-a-class-full-of-
perfect-students/ ) but I'll give it my best shot in writing now!
Funnily enough this technique works equally for teachers wanting

perfect students or for students wanting a perfect teacher.
The first step is to identify exactly what you want.
Just like with anything in life, if you know exactly what it is you want,
it's much easier to get there. If you're not sure, you'll just go round and
round aimlessly.
So if you are a teacher, really think, what is your perfect class? What
is your ideal student like? Really think about it in detail. Are they genki or
quiet? Are they inquisitive or obedient? When you do this, do they do
this or do that? When you are they, what do they do? When you're not
there, what do they do?
Really think about it exactly, what sort of student you'd really love to
have. And remember most teachers might want different types of
students.
Write it down now, exactly what you'd like them to be like.
And then, step 2, this is the magic.

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Now think to yourself, in order to attract that type of student, what

sort of teacher do I have to become?
What sort of teacher is that ideal student looking for?
And then you simply become that teacher.
Just by changing the thought pattern like this, it changes

everything. You'll start attracting the ideal students, but also, magically,
your current students will change to become exactly how you want them
to be.
It's just the same with any relationship. What's your ideal girlfriend/
boyfriend/husband/wife/parent/child and what sort of person would you
have to be to attract them?
Just give it a try, it will open a whole new world of teaching and
learning!
!
!

GenkiEnglish.com
4. The Helper
We’ve had plenty of discipline ideas if you
have several (or a whole class!) of
misbehaving kids.
And this is a bonus discipline technique for

when you are lucky (or unlucky!) enough to
have just one difficult student.
And it is very simple:
Make them your executive assistant for the

day!
He/She comes to the front and helps you

out, doing demo discussions, helping
explain things etc.
Very often if there is just one problem

student in the class it’s because they aren’t being challenged enough.
So making them your assistant can do wonders.
!
!
!
!

GenkiEnglish.com
So there you go, I've had teachers completely change around their
classes just using the ideas above, especially the first 3.
There are a few more on the website here:
http://genkienglish.net/teaching/discipline/
But in general you've got everything you need for the discipline
side of things.
Now I'm going to finish this book with a few extra bonuses on how
to get your kids' attention and keep it, which will nicely lead into the
lessons plans book and your brand new Genki English Teacher's Set.
Enjoy!

GenkiEnglish.com
Nina Tips to Get the

Kids' Attention
!
I get a lot of emails from teachers saying how their kids are running
around out of control and don’t pay any attention to anybody.
I do sympathise and have seen far too many classes like that myself!
It might seem tempting to just say “well, the lessons are too boring
then!” but you often need to dig a little deeper.
Over the years of helping lots of teachers I’ve come up with some
“ninja secret” steps that in most cases cure the problem, often after just
step 1….
(We’ll assume the obvious that you’re not using “chalk and talk” with
just flashcards on the board etc. and that you are using computers and
the Genki English Teacher's Set in class.)
Ninja Tip One : Set the boundaries

First thing is that you need to impose controlled discipline so they
don’t go running off and doing other things.
If the kids are playing up there’s a good chance they’ve never seen
proper discipline before.
And if that’s the case, believe me they will *love* that you are
introducing some structure and guidance into their lives.

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Remember, however student centered we make things, this is

*your* class, your rules and they have to stick to them (in a fun way of
course!)
So go and read part one of this book again, The Agreement! :)
Ninja Tip 2: Check your English

The next thing is to make sure the kids understand the English you
use in class, both the target English of the lesson *and* the English used
when you explain things. Especially games.
Keep it “L+1″ i.e. the kids level of English (L) plus just a little bit
(+1.)
Lower than this and they won’t improve.
Higher than this and they won’t understand.
And kids will always switch off when they don’t understand.
So either use English they do understand, or simply use their own

language when needed.
There’s no sin in that, it’s what the best teachers in the world do. :)
Ninja Tip 3 – What they want to learn and how they

want to learn it
Now we can start on the content, which means English *they* want
to learn and to teach it *how* they want to learn.

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If you were a kid in this class, what English would be the most useful
to you?
What phrases do they use with each other in the playground?
What questions do they ask foreign visitors to the schools?
What questions do they drive their parents crazy with?
What are their most commonly used words?
You can see how I do this with the Genki English curriculum:
http://genkienglish.net/curriculum.htm
Of course many of you will now say “But we have to teach the
textbook!”
Well, luckily, no you probably don’t! :)
In most countries what you have to teach are the official

government guidelines. And in most cases these are actually really good
(I’ve had to look at a lot of them!)
So look them up, and as long as you cover everything in there, no

one will complain.
You’ll have kids who love classes and pay attention.
And whichever way you look at it, things will be way better than
they are now! :)

GenkiEnglish.com
(And of course if you have your own school you are totally free to
teach whatever you want.)
A little more sanity….

I’ve been handing out these tips in workshops and emails for years
now, and from the feedback I get from other teachers, if you implement
just these three steps (with confidence and a strong heart!) you’ll soon
have a class full of angels!
And then you're ready to move on to the Teacher's Set Lesson Plans
book. Enjoy!
Be genki,
Richard

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GenkiEnglish.

Ninja Tips for

Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 1

Ninja Tips for

Amazing material *and* strong, clear discipline.

Courtesy. Integrity. Perseverance. Self Control.

Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 2

1. The Agreement – without a doubt the most important technique

3. How to get a class of perfect angels! – this simple exercise will

Plus a bonus techniques for a more specific situations:

5. The Agreement – I’m putting it in again as it really is that

One more tip for teenagers:

Learnt from Jamie Oliver

“Always keep teenagers busy.”

And one more tip in general:

Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 3

Never be afraid to fire a student.

OK, I think that covers just about everything.

Remember it takes time to learn these techniques, and some kids

But however student centered we make the learning, the actual

So read through everything here and try everything out.

There is a reason we’ve spent so many years building and building

Discipline techniques can make an amazing class shine, but it can’t

Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 4

And I’ll leave you with just one last line:

A heart of gold illuminates the world, but on the inside

Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 5

It uses the Pygmalion Effect,

But first let me tell you a story

My class at school was pretty well behaved really.

But one day we had a new temp French teacher.

We could just tell she didn’t have confidence.

So what did some kids do?

What did she do? Nothing!

Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 6

So they pushed some more and more and more.

It’s not all you need, but you do need it.

So here we go … Bikers & Police

Whenever humans interact there is always a, usually tacit, unspoken,

For example I bet you’d behave differently to a uniformed police

And you’d behave differently when seeing a dodgy looking biker

It’s just part of who we are.

We assess the situation, think back to how we should behave and

Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 7

Sleeping & Learning

The teacher stands at the front.

The students sit quietly in rows sleeping, sorry, learning.

The problems come when this breaks down.

Either from a lack of parents, a lack or parenting or even teachers in

They have no frame of reference or experience to work from.

Or even worse they pick up the bad expectations of their peers.

Even the best classes can succumb to this as we saw above.

And how do we do this?

By simply setting out, before we start, the expectations of the class.

Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 8

Respect the kids and listen to what they have to say.

E.g. They will:

Act respectfully of each other and the teacher.

Always try their hardest, no matter what.

Speak up and keep trying.

Usually though, it won’t go this far.

Most kids just want to know what to do and what is expected.

Ninja Tips for Perfect Discipline, Page 9

Amazing material and strong, clear discipline.