What is the Difference Between Classroom Management and Discipline

The main difference between classroom management and discipline is that classroom management refers to the use of a variety of skills and techniques by teachers to make students engage in activities during the class, whereas discipline refers to training individuals to obey rules or code of conduct using punishment to correct faults.

In modern classrooms, teachers implement a series of activities to implement effective classroom management as well as to teach discipline to students in order to help them gain knowledge, habits, strength, and ideas. However, there are several distinctions between classroom management and discipline.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Classroom Management 
     – Definition, Features 
2. What is Discipline
     – Definition, Features 
3. Difference Between Classroom Management and Discipline
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Classroom Management, Discipline

What is Classroom Management

Classroom management is the process teachers use to maintain the appropriate behavior of students in a classroom setting. Teachers may use strategies and skills to make students engage in classroom activities. Effective classroom management will help to provide a good academic environment for the students. Moreover, classroom management helps to enhance the behavior and the learning of the students. In addition, classroom management differs according to various factors like subject, age group, or teaching tools teachers use for lessons.

A proper classroom management procedure helps the effective implementation of the curriculum and the syllabus within the class. Moreover, an effective and good teacher-student relationship can be built by focusing on classroom management. The use of classroom management can prevent disruptive behavior while encouraging proper and decent behavior of students, enabling the smooth run of the class.

What is Discipline

The word discipline refers to creating control in behavior. In a way, discipline is a way of living according to a set of rules and guidelines. Moreover, discipline is expected from individuals in different contexts and situations in life. In addition, discipline is gained by individuals through self-control under the socially approved standard of thought and actions.

Furthermore, modern educational thinking defines discipline as the act of preparing children for a democratic society and helping them achieve knowledge, habits, strength, and ideas. Thus, discipline is considered as a mechanism that generates knowledge in modern thought of education. Discipline is very important in life since it gives strength and power for people to live a better life.

Difference Between Classroom Management and Discipline

Definition

Classroom management is the use of a variety of skills and techniques by teachers to make students engage in activities during the class, whereas discipline is the training of people to obey rules or regulations using punishment to make them correct.

Behaviour

Although discipline is expected from individuals in society to maintain a good lifestyle, good behavior is expected from students in the classroom management procedure.

Nature

While the modern thought of discipline prepares students for a democratic society, classroom management solely focuses on maintaining the teaching and learning process while avoiding disturbances. 

Focus

Discipline focuses on the general behavior of students both inside the classroom and outside the classroom, whereas classroom management expects less disruptive behavior from students only inside the classroom.

Summary – Classroom Management vs Discipline

The main difference between classroom management and discipline is that classroom management is the use of different skills and techniques by teachers to make the students engage in activities during the class, whereas discipline is the training of people to obey rules or code of conduct using punishment to correct faults.

Reference:

1. “Classroom Management.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation.
2. “Essay on Discipline: Definition, Concept, Components and Principles.” Your Article Library.
3. “Classroom Management Module.” American Psychological Association.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Photo of room, education, classroom, children, library, students, school, learning, class, indonesia, teacher, bali, school class, pupils” (CC0) via Pxhere
2. “The word Discipline on white background” By Marco Verch Professional Photograhy (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr