Students need to understand that if they chose to follow or violate classroom expectations, a correlation exists between their choice and the consequence. Negative student consequences should be logical and in proportion to the seriousness of the violation. Rewards should also be in proportion to students' correct choices. Rewards should have a legitimate educational purpose, and the reward offered should be sufficient enough to motivate students to want to continue making correct choices. Praising desired behavior is much more effective than punishing undesired behavior.
Preventive discipline is more effective than reactive discipline.
Students who are corrected in front of their peers often respond by acting out even more. Often the student who is being publicly disciplined will have their peer group rush to their support at the expense of the teacher. At the elementary level, it is generally acceptable to praise a particular student in front of other students. At the middle school and high school levels, individual praise normally needs to be done privately, while group praise is done publicly. Praise should always be genuine and never contrived.