Discipline Answers

In preparation for a new school year, I’ve been looking at lots of picture books lately.  One I picked up is the famous “Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse” by Kevin Henkes.  I can’t quite believe it myself but I’d never read this book before––and it’s been available for 14 years!  Turns out, it’s a great story [...]

QUESTION: Last week I discussed what each level looks like with my class. Now this week the kids are not very well behaved in the hallway.  I’ve prompted them by saying “Check your level.”  The two kids that have the most issues can pinpoint what level they’re at––and also what level they need to be [...]

QUESTION: This is my first year of teaching first grade.  I’ve brainstormed a list of classroom activities and now I want to make procedures for each one.  I’m not sure how to go about it though.  Can you give me an example? RESPONSE: Sure!  Let’s take the example of planning procedures for Show and Tell. [...]

QUESTION: I will be teaching 1st grade in a month!   People tell me I need to plan my procedures but I don’t really know how to get started.  HELP!!! RESPONSE: You’re very smart to be thinking ahead to the procedures that you want to teach in the beginning of the year.  It’s a very [...]

QUESTION: I usually involve the students in the creation of classroom rules.  To me, we are just agreeing upon how we can make our classroom a safe and fun place to be. I don’t know if it’s really so different from a DWS approach of having procedures, but “no rules.”  Isn’t this just a matter [...]

  In his book, The First Days of School; How to Be an Effective Teacher, classroom management guru, Harry Wong, quotes research conducted by Madeline Hunter.  He asks us to consider the following information: For a child to learn something new, you need to repeat it on the average 8 times. For a child to [...]

A couple of summers ago, I attended a Smartboard workshop for teachers in our district.  The presenter from the company had an effective signal for getting everyone’s attention.  For two years since, I’ve used the idea successfully with my grade ones. I don’t use this particular signal when I’m in a rush to get everyone’s [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

QUESTION: I teach a class of remediation seniors who have not passed the high school exit exam. They are very difficult to control. Nothing fazes them. There are two or three who simply do not take no for an answer. They ask to go to the bathroom, get a drink, make a phone call. I [...]