Discipline Answers

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 [...]

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 [...]

QUESTION: I found out about Dr. Marshall’s DISCIPLINE without STRESS on the Internet when I visited a primary teacher’s classroom website. I noticed that although this teacher used DWS, there was also a “behavior board” in the classroom where the students’ behavior was noted when they acted up. Certain misbehavior was followed by certain consequences. [...]

QUESTION: I’ve heard you describe the DISCIPLINE without STRESS approach as “simple-to-implement.” I personally find that it takes continuous effort when I’m teaching to deal with classroom management and at the same remember to be positive, offer choices, and ask reflective questions. I wonder if others find the implementation of this discipline approach to be [...]

QUESTION: Can this discipline system really be used with young children in Kindergarten and First Grade? It seems as if it would be above their heads. RESPONSE: I’ve met a number of people, both in person and on the Internet, who express concern that the concepts of DISCIPLINE without STRESS are too sophisticated to be [...]

QUESTION: I just got Dr. Marshall’s book, DISCIPLINE without STRESS, PUNISHMENTS or REWARDS. How long will it take until I can implement this system in my classroom? RESPONSE: You can begin to implement the DISCIPLINE without STRESS approach whenever you feel comfortable that you understand the system well enough to use it. It’s possible to [...]

DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Although this system of discipline was originally developed while I was teaching at the middle school level, the principles can be used successfully with students of any age–preschool to grade 12. DISCIPLINE without STRESS will work with anyone who has achieved enough cognitive development to reason. DISCIPLINE without STRESS handles disruptive behavior [...]

QUESTION: I have recently taken over a classroom, as a substitute for three weeks. The teacher of this classroom has been on leave for some time and the students have had many temporary teachers. I feel that I am using all the correct educational practices but the discipline problems in this class are extensive. I [...]

QUESTION: Can you explain the difference between classroom management and discipline? DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Although related, classroom management and discipline are distinctly different topics. They should not be lumped together as if they were synonymous. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT deals with how things are done. It has to do with procedures, routines, classroom structure and is the [...]

RESPONSE: None of the three phases of this discipline approach–teaching, asking, or eliciting–prompts stress on the part of the teacher (or the student). When a student misbehaves, the USUAL discipline approach is to tell, threaten, and/or punish. Each of these approaches is coercive and often results in some resistance. When a student does not obey, [...]