📚 As a teacher, maintaining discipline in the classroom can be challenging. Detention and suspension are traditional consequences for inappropriate behaviour, but is it effective? Rather than focusing on punishment, creative alternatives can help students understand the impact of their actions and encourage positive behaviour.

In this blog, we’ll dive into some effective alternatives to detention and suspension that can help students become more responsible and self-aware.

Mindful meditation 🧘‍♀️

Detention can sometimes be counterproductive as it only makes students angry and resentful. Mindful meditation can serve as an alternative to detention. It helps students control their thoughts and emotions while teaching them how to mindfulness in their daily lives. Mindful meditation can not only help students relax during environments they might find stressful, but could also increase their focus and improve their overall well-being.

A student pictured with crossed legs during a meditation session in class

Community service 🏋️‍♂️

Community service can prove to be an innovative alternative to detention and suspension. Giving the opportunity to be part of something bigger than themselves encourages students to reflect on their actions and understand how their behaviour impacts their community. Community service can teach student’s real-world skills, while also helping them feel good about themselves. Helping their community make a positive impact, that too with their own hands can teach them valuable life skills and attitudes that will help them grow into thoughtful and responsible adults.

A group of students volunteering in a community service project, picking up litter

Restorative justice 🤝

Restorative justice is a positive alternative to detention as it encourages students to recognize the impact of their actions on those around them. This process involves wrongdoers, victims, and community members in finding a solution that allows for repair and restoration rather than punishment. The goal is to help students take responsibility for their actions and make amends with those they have wronged. This approach can be highly beneficial as it helps students develop empathy and learn constructive conflict resolution techniques.

A restorative justice circle, where students speak openly about a past issue and find ways to move forward positively together.

Conflict resolution workshops 💥

Conflict resolution workshops can help students learn how to deal with tense situations, especially when they are feeling triggered or upset. Workshops focus on empathy, and once the students learn to empathize, they can acknowledge their feelings and move past whatever issue they were feeling. This approach is useful as it gives students life skills and can help them become better leaders in the future. These workshops are structured in a way that encourages participants to think critically and creatively about solutions to real-world problems in a respectful and helpful manner.

A group of students engaged in a role-playing conflict resolution workshop

Positive reinforcement 🏆

Positive reinforcement is an alternative to traditional disciplinary methods that aim to instil fear while rewarding students who are making good choices. Teachers can encourage desired behaviour by praising and rewarding their students. This approach can foster a positive learning environment and build their self-esteem. Positive reinforcement can also help teachers establish a good rapport with their students, which can result in more cooperative behaviour and respect in the classroom.

A student grinning from ear to ear with a sticker that says 'great job'

🎉 In conclusion, it’s essential to foster a positive and safe learning environment for students to grow, learn, and become more responsible. Detention and suspension can be useful at times, but it shouldn’t be the only response to inappropriate behaviour. Creative alternatives such as mindful meditation, community service, restorative justice, conflict resolution workshops, and positive reinforcement can be an effective way to create a more positive learning environment.

A diverse group of smiling students sitting in a classroom