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 [...]
How can I explain the difference between Level C and D?
QUESTION: What is the best way to explain the difference between internal and external motivation––in other words, the difference between DWS Levels C and D? I am having trouble with this. RESPONSE: Initially I use very concrete examples connected directly to the classroom. I describe Level C as the level where students do the right [...]
I’m worried about the part where kids decide their own consequences.
A response from Allan, a member of the DWS Yahoo Group Sometimes it is not easy to move away from rewards and punishments so eliciting consequences from kids is not as bad as imposing consequences––but we need to aim to move away even from this. We want kids to think of the word “consequences” as [...]
Books by Jeanette Winter – Level D, every one of them!
Author/Illustrator, Jeanette Winter, has written some amazing story books recording the efforts of ordinary people––turned heroes––through their initiative and Level D actions. Any one of these picture books could be used to introduce or deepen an understanding of the concepts of Level D. Even adults and older students appreciate Winter’s books––not only as beautiful works of [...]
When do you introduce the Hierarchy?
QUESTION: Do you introduce the DWS Hierarchy during the very first morning meeting or do you wait until a situation arises to talk about it? BUT then I think you might embarrass the child whose behavior is inappropriate… Help! RESPONSE: One thing that I love about DWS is the whole concept of being proactive and [...]
I plan to introduce the DWS essay on the second day of school.
QUESTION: First day of school yesterday. I have about 31 4th/5th graders. Morning started off great, went downhill from there. I’m going to introduce the RRS essay tomorrow. DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: If on the second day of school, essays are used, it means that many of the steps of the Teaching Model have been missed entirely. Some considerations: 1. [...]
Do all discipline conversations need to be private?
QUESTION: If 95% of the kids are attentively listening, but two boys are making faces to each other and laughing, clearly not paying attention, how do you refocus them without calling them out in front of the class? I get that it’s more effective to ask them about their behavior, but I wonder if I can I [...]
I have a student that passively refuses to answer reflective questions.
QUESTION (Part One): I’ve heard you say “The person who asks the questions controls the conversation.” However, I have a child in my first grade class this year who refuses to answer any of my reflective questions. DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Try: If you are not happy and would like me to help you, let me [...]
How often should I be eliciting a consequence?
QUESTION: When a child does something they shouldn’t, I follow DWS and elicit the consequence from them. There have been times however when I’ve been faced with children who don’t know how to think and apply consequences. What do you suggest? DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Elicit a consequence only when a youngster has done something that [...]
