Discipline Answers

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 [...]

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 [...]

QUESTION: I understand what a Level B student is but sometimes I hear teachers asking, “Do you want me to become a Level B teacher?” Can you explain what this is all about? RESPONSE: One important understanding students receive when the teacher introduces the DWS Hierarchy in the beginning of the year is that people [...]

QUESTION: I find that sometimes my high school students resent me asking them their level. At first I was giving them lots of essays and self-diagnostic referrals from the back of the book, but I understand that you don’t really recommend that either. Can you help me better understand how I should deal with difficult [...]

QUESTION: We use DWS at our school–a high-poverty, high-needs school, with many angry, disruptive, disrespectful students. As the social worker, I really like the philosophy that DWS espouses, but I do notice one problem. Students often see the “essay” as a punishment. It can become a power-struggle with some teachers. Do you have any suggestions [...]

QUESTION: I once had a grade 8 student who said, “It doesn’t matter what level I say I’m on, you’re always going to find a way to tell me that I’m on an unacceptable level.” I’m wondering what a teacher might say in response to something like that? A response from Tammy Shared on the [...]

QUESTION: Language is my biggest stumbling block. I know what I want to say but on the spur of the moment I often find it hard to put into words. As I develop new habits with this discipline approach, I sometimes feel a bit tongue-tied. Can you give me some examples of questions that don’t [...]

QUESTION: My team of teachers and I have started to use DISCIPLINE without STRESS with good success but need some clarification. Our students rotate through us every day. We ‘re wondering if a student gets the essay form in one class, do they start fresh in the next teacher’s classroom or do they receive the [...]