Extending the DWS Hierarchy into learning
Gradually, as I experienced continued success with using Dr. Marshall’s Discipline without Stress approach to help students develop self-discipline and a sense of responsibility, I realized that there was enormous potential and value in using his Hierarchy of Social Development to inspire young people in all areas of their lives. One day I decided to [...]
Making learning an option – The “Principle of Choice” at work!
After first reading Marv’s DWS book more than ten years ago, I started to become conscious of the importance of deliberately planning for “choice” in my teaching. Certainly, as I took on a job at a local Alternate High School six years ago––working one-on-one with sullen, illiterate and often, ashamed teenagers––providing choice was a [...]
Can I use DWS in a small group/pull-out situation?
QUESTION: I teach small groups in a reading pull-out program. I have students for 30-45 minutes every day. Do you think I could implement the Discipline without Stress approach effectively in my small group setting? RESPONSE: It is certainly possible to use the DWS approach in a small-group teaching situation. DWS is an effective tool [...]
How do I help students realize they are responsible for their own grade?
QUESTION: I teach a 10th grade remedial math class. My problem is this: Very few of the students are doing their home and class assignments. I am trying to get them to realize how it’s affecting their grade, however I noticed that whenever I give them a progress report they seem to feel that I [...]
10-15 students are arriving late – every day!
QUESTION: I am currently in a situation where I am the permanent teacher, taking the place of another teacher. I have been in this position for about 3 weeks now, and I have noticed that many students arrive late every day. Not just one or two but 10-15 students are arriving late to my class! [...]
Without rewards, how can I encourage neat work habits?
QUESTION: I don’t want to use stickers to motivate my primary students to print more neatly. Any suggestions to encourage them to take more care with their school work? RESPONSE: Here are some things that my teaching partner and I do in order to help build neat work habits over time: 1. We talk a [...]
Some “evidence” that DWS really gets kids thinking!
This week I had a neat experience while teaching a grade 7 student at my newest job at the middle school. I just thought I’d share. For those who don’t know me, I have three teaching positions, all of which are shared with the same partner. Darlene and I share a grade 1 classroom, each [...]
How can I motivate my students to take care in their schoolwork?
QUESTION: I am a high school Social Studies teacher. As a teacher of a content area, I don’t penalize my students for spelling errors on their assignments as an English teacher would, but at the same time, I don’t want to give them the impression that spelling isn’t important. I’m not having much success. Once [...]
I want to encourage some very low students.
QUESTION: I work with very low math students. Part of my plan for next year is to convince them that things can be different. I want to convince them that they can find success and not be so frustrated! The worst behavior cases seem to be the kids that have given up. But then I [...]
The kids were mad when I kept them in!
QUESTION: I’ve just taken over in a classroom where the kids are used to freely talking. Today I kept them in from break because they were talking so much that we couldn’t get the work done. This made them really mad at me! In this discipline system, how do I communicate to the students that [...]
