Picture book for all grade levels – “So Close”
Here’s a very simple picture book with a poignant message that can be appreciated by readers of any age. It’s brilliant! Told in just 7 sentences it is the quintessential story of ”what might have been.” It will touch your heart and inspire you to reach out to others! Mr. Duck and Mr. Rabbit are neighbors. [...]
Primary book – “Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse”
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 [...]
Should I put the kids’ names on the Hierarchy with clothespegs?
QUESTION: I’d like to put my student’s names on clothespegs and then move them to different levels on the Hierarchy chart if they misbehave or do something at a high level? Does this fit with the DWS approach? RESPONSE: Although it might seem as if clothepegs on the Hierarchy chart create a concrete visual to help remind [...]
A “portable Hierarchy” is a good idea!
After my teaching partner and I initially introduce the DWS Hierarchy to our primary students, we also introduce a smaller, portable version. On this simpler version there are no descriptors, only the names of the four levels. It’s made from a piece of black poster board (roughly 12″ by 24″) with a strip of [...]
Early Primary book; Choice-Response Thinking
In DWS classrooms, teachers use Dr. Marshall’s four-leveled Hierarchy chart to introduce young people to empowering information about internal motivation. Students of all ages learn that to be motivated internally (as opposed to being pressured or coaxed externally,) is the highest level of personal and social development. In order for students to take full advantage of the [...]
Are young kids developmentally ready to operate on Level D?
QUESTION: As a first grade teacher, I totally agree with DWS being the best way to go. However, I have some concerns about the developmental readiness of young children to operate on the level of Democracy on the Hierarchy. I seem to recall from my Ed. Psych. class that this level of behavior was ‘normally’ expected [...]
One day last February we learned that a new boy would be joining our grade one class. In an effort to be proactive, my teaching partner, Darlene, planned a class meeting the day before he arrived. She wanted to encourage the students to welcome the new child and she also hoped to avoid a situation [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
With all these reflective questions, B students are getting all the attention!
QUESTION: I want to recognize my Level C and D students more but it seems that the B ones are getting all the attention; I keep having to asking them reflective questions! For example, if they are all squirmy and loud in the hall I have been asking them, “Do you think your behavior is [...]
