Discipline Answers

QUESTION: I teach two 8th grade “behavior modification classes,” mainly composed of students sent to us from alternative school or juvenile hall. I like the suggestion in your discipline book about holding class meetings but the ones I’ve tried so far have been a disaster. There is no way that I know of to keep [...]

QUESTION: I am a student teacher in a 3rd grade class.  My college says that you should never start a lesson with “Take out your math book.”  Okay… then how do you get the kids to take  out their math books?  My other question is how do you get them to do it right away? It usually takes [...]

QUESTION: I don’t understand how the teaching of procedures can be used in a discipline situation.  Can you give me an example. RESPONSE: The following anecdote is an example of how a Discipline without Stress teacher dealt with misbehavior by introducing some new procedures. BEING SELF-DISCIPLINED WITH PENCILS! Having used DwStress for several years now, [...]

QUESTION: I’m a middle school art teacher. I’ve just read Dr. Marshall’s DWS book.  I want to use it in my teaching but I’m having trouble understanding expectations vs. rules. The two sound the same to me just that they have different labels. I’m not sure if I need to convert what I have used in [...]

QUESTION: I need help with beginning of the year procedures instruction for first grade. RESPONSE from a member of THE DWS MAILRING: I can tell you a little about what I do with my first graders. The first day of school is all about them going home feeling good about school – their new teacher, class, and school itself. [...]

QUESTION: I’ve always started the year by setting up classroom rules. Usually I keep it simple—just four rules: 1) Be safe  2) Be respectful,  3) Be responsible, and; 4) Be kind. Would you ever do this as part of the DWS approach? If not, then how do you make students aware of your expectations? RESPONSE: [...]

Almost every year, Darlene, my teaching partner, and I, do a dinosaur unit in our primary classroom. As a culmination to a month of learning about dinosaurs and fossils, we always plan a field trip to Darlene’s house, which is located close to a beautiful sandy beach. The “Dinosaur Dig” is often the highlight of [...]