How can I help a student who constantly blurts out?
RESPONSE: When there is a discipline issue, my first course of action is to return to the DWS Teaching Model. Guided by the first step, I review my procedures: Have I taught/practiced this particular procedure enough times for this child to be successful? Can I offer this child a chance to find his own procedure or [...]
I’m hoping to find a list of picture books to introduce the four DWS levels.
Here is a list of picture books compiled by one teacher on the DWS mailring. Level A Books – Anarchy Mean Soup, by Betsy Everitt Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink, by Diane deGroat Miss Nelson is Missing, by Harry Allard We Share Everything, by Robert Munsch Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes [...]
QUESTION: Do you feel I can implement this successfully with 5th graders or is it geared more to the lower grades? RESPONSE: DWS is perfect for using with grade fives! Dr. Marshall first developed this approach for middle and high school students. It’s since been adapted for use with younger students in intermediate and primary [...]
How can I control voice levels during centers?
QUESTION: I’m looking for some different things to try to control the student voice level during centers. I really don’t believe that whispering is a natural thing for anyone, adults included. That said, in order for me to work with small groups I need them to be quieter than their regular talking voice level. I [...]
For some students, they see “sub” and think “anarchy!”
QUESTION: As a grade 7-12 substitute teacher, I was thinking of “travelling” with the ABCD poster and briefly explaining it, but I wondered if that would be too disruptive to kids if I’m only with them for a day or two. I’m finding that getting good behavior as a sub is far more difficult than [...]
Can I use DWS in a small group/pull-out situation?
QUESTION: I teach small groups in a reading pull-out program. I have students for 30-45 minutes every day. Do you think I could implement the Discipline without Stress approach effectively in my small group setting? RESPONSE: It is certainly possible to use the DWS approach in a small-group teaching situation. DWS is an effective tool [...]
Role-playing Level C – a good idea!
Sherry, a fabulous grade six teacher at my school, mentioned to me one day that when she sees a child operating on Level B in her classroom, she uses the opportunity to do some role-playing. After she has asked the student to assess their level of behavior (and they can accurately assess it as Level [...]
Isn’t DWS very similar to Love and Logic?
A response by Claudia Payne, a member of the DWS Mailring: My school has spent a great deal of money training us on L&L. Buy DWS. It includes Jim Fay’s philosophy and is much easier to use since it is a “system” and can be used “publicly” without any demeaning of the student. When I [...]
How do I help students realize they are responsible for their own grade?
QUESTION: I teach a 10th grade remedial math class. My problem is this: Very few of the students are doing their home and class assignments. I am trying to get them to realize how it’s affecting their grade, however I noticed that whenever I give them a progress report they seem to feel that I [...]
My students are too young to write a reflection sheet.
QUESTION: Occasionally I feel the need to give one of my Kindergarten students a reflection sheet but at this age they can’t write. Then what? DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Establish a reflection table for misbehaving students with the comment, “It seems to me that you need some reflection time to bring your behavior to a higher [...]
