Discipline Answers

QUESTION: I’m the librarian in a K-8 school. I have been looking for a good discipline program and am really interested in DWS. Any tips or suggestions for successfully getting started in this type of teaching situation? RESPONSE: In any teaching situation, good classroom management lays the foundation for effective discipline. Leave nothing to chance. [...]

QUESTION: I have recently attempted to implement DWS in my substitute teaching assignments and have experienced some degree of success. Since these subbing assignments provide so little time to implement and reap the benefits of this system, I would welcome any suggestions you might have for a substitute teacher. RESPONSE: Part I of the DWS [...]

QUESTION: My team of teachers and I have started to use DISCIPLINE without STRESS with good success but need some clarification. Our students rotate through us every day. We ‘re wondering if a student gets the essay form in one class, do they start fresh in the next teacher’s classroom or do they receive the [...]

QUESTION: I am required to give each of my students a grade for behavior–either a 1, 2 or 3. This doesn’t seem to mesh well with DWS, since this approach has a focus of internalizing responsibility. I would prefer that my students give themselves a behavior grade. How can I use this situation as a [...]

QUESTION: Can you give me an example of how I can use the DISCIPLINE without STRESS system to motivate young students academically? RESPONSE: Here is an example from my own grade one classroom: Before beginning a journal writing session, I might put two examples of writing on the board. On one sample, I would write [...]

A couple of years ago one my students made a little gift for every child in the class. It was a tiny figure made from little plastic beads. She was keen to give them out and so as the class started to eat their morning snack, I agreed with her that this would be a [...]

My teaching partner and I have always provided a home reading program for our grade one students. We give each one a ziplock bag in which to store their home reading books and every morning they make an exchange, taking two new books home. Well, that’s the theory of it anyway! In reality, we have [...]

QUESTION: I understand that teachers using DISCIPLINE without STRESS refer to homework as “home tasks.” Why is this? RESPONSE: Effort for learning, and effort of any other kind–especially employment–need to be clearly differentiated. For example, in Dr. Marshall’s book, the word “homework” appears only in the index. Elsewhere in the book he uses the term, [...]

QUESTION: I am returning to teaching after a 30-year absence and find that discipline is once again my biggest challenge. Among other negative behaviors, lack of interest seems prevalent. Do you have any suggestions? DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Let students know that if they decide not to learn, that is their decision. You will not even [...]