QUESTION: The biggest problem I have in implementing this discipline approach is kids talking when they’re not supposed to. We go through the questions about what level that behavior is and whether it’s appropriate, which they are able to answer just fine. But when I ask them what can they do next time (or when [...]
July 2007
What can I suggest to these kids to help them stop talking?
USING THE HIERARCHY TO UNDERSTAND INTEGRITY
Just this past week, I had a situation in which I was able to use the Hierarchy to help a child named Sarah, feel a bit better about her dealings with a difficult desk partner. I thought I’d share because I think it’s helpful to hear stories of classroom experiences. Additionally I want to encourage [...]
Use simple examples to teach the Hierarchy.
We’re going through a heat wave here in BC that’s breaking records all the way back to the 40′s and 50′s! So this morning when my husband and son left for work, I decided that if I was going to go for a bike ride today, it had better be early. As I was traveling [...]
I would like to have my students give themselves a daily discipline mark.
QUESTION: I really like the idea of sending home a daily behavior report to parents. Now that I am using DISCIPLINE without STRESS, I am thinking that I would like to have my students give themselves a discipline mark at the end of each day. They could mark themselves as having operated on Level A, [...]
HELPING A SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENT DEVELOP SELF-DISCIPLINE
My teaching partner, Darlene had a very effective “DISCIPLINE without STRESS discussion” this week with Casey, one of our Special Needs students. Although Casey is several years older than the other children in our Grade One class, socially he does best with this age group because he has the same play interests as six year [...]
USING REFLECTION TO IMPROVE SPELLING
Through our use of the DISCIPLINE without STRESS approach, my teaching partner and I have come to understand that positive changes in behavior are more likely to occur when we prompt students to think about how they choose to operate in their lives. More and more often, we now practice the DISICPLINE without STRESS Principle [...]
Would a school pledge fit into the DWS approach?
QUESTION: At our school, we have a program intended to create peace in our community. I am being told that I must teach the pledge that goes with this program. Although I do like the idea of encouraging kids to be peaceful, I wonder how a pledge would fit into a Discipline without Stress approach. [...]
Most of my students have serious behavior problems.
QUESTION: Most of my students have serious behavior problems and disorders. Many days I have had desks thrown at me and have had students try to hit me. To be totally honest, I don’t see how I could use a loving internal discipline system that asks students to just THINK about what they are doing. [...]
How can I get all my students to Level D?
QUESTION: I’ve been using DISCIPLINE without STRESS for a few months now and my students seem to understand about the four levels of behavior. Generally their behavior is acceptable, but they aren’t operating on Level D all the time yet. What can I do about this? RESPONSE: Surprising as it might seem, having all students [...]
I have some parents who don’t like that “D” behavior is better than “A.”
QUESTION: I have some parents who don’t like that “D” behavior is better behavior than “A.” My students get letter grades for conduct and a few parents have a difficult time with D being good in the classroom but not on the report card. Can you help me with this? DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: This is [...]





