Extending the DWS Hierarchy into learning
Gradually, as I experienced continued success with using Dr. Marshall’s Discipline without Stress approach to help students develop self-discipline and a sense of responsibility, I realized that there was enormous potential and value in using his Hierarchy of Social Development to inspire young people in all areas of their lives. One day I decided to [...]
Please explain how the “Trash Scenario” is used to teach the Hierarchy
QUESTION: I remember reading about a teacher using some trash to introduce the DWS Hierarchy. Can you explain what this is? RESPONSE: The activity you’re thinking of is just one way in which the DWS Hierarchy of Social Development can be introduced to students. My teaching partner, Darlene Collinson, came up with this idea after reading Dr. [...]
Using procedures to gain the cooperation of a passive-aggressive student
My teaching partner and I have a little girl in our grade one classroom this year who is very stubborn and actually downright defiant in a passive aggressive way. Right from the beginning of the year she would deliberately do the opposite of whatever the teacher was asking or quietly not do anything at all. When everyone was [...]
Hundreds of simple procedures… to save my sanity!
Dr. Marshall always emphasizes that successful classroom discipline actually begins by developing skill with Step One of his DWS Teaching Model––classroom management. Over the years, as I have come to experience that what he says is true, I have found great value in becoming more and more deliberate in my planning and teaching of classroom [...]
A great procedure for primary grades!
Last May, while attending a workshop given by a local Kindergarten colleague, I heard her share a few little procedures she teaches that she swears save her sanity. One stuck in my memory but I didn’t actually teach it myself until just this past week––when I thought I would go NUTS with three kids who [...]
Like many of my Kindergarten students, I’m concerned about Damian because he doesn’t have an adequate vocabulary or many expressive oral language skills. His articulation when speaking is also extremely poor; he’s missing a very large number of top teeth (as a result of years of excessive sugar in his diet.) I’ve noticed that when [...]
I’ve learned a great lesson from my teaching partner, Darlene, who has wonderful “people skills.” We share a grade one class. She begins the year with a quick phone call to every family, starting with those children who look like they may eventually have some behavior issues. She simply asks the parents to let her [...]
A few years ago, I posted some ideas regarding good intentions that Darlene and I had learned in our workshops with Dr. Gordon Neufeld, a well-known Canadian developmental psychologist. Gordon’s ideas about attachments and relationships are quite unique and extremely helpful to anyone interested in using DWS. Here’s the gist of his ideas regarding good intentions: As [...]
What it looks like to be positive in a negative situation.
I think I work with the most masterful and quick-witted teacher alive! Here’s just one very small example of how Darlene took a negative situation (partly created by me!) and instantly found the positive kernel inside that could make a child feel encouraged and hopeful. For the month of June Darlene and I decided to work [...]
Are all class incentives discouraged?
QUESTION: I’m new to DWS so bear with me. I’m wondering if whole class incentives for staying on Level C or D is appropriate. For instance, if the whole class can stay on Level C or D for a certain amount of time, then could there be some sort of reward like a movie, free time or [...]
