How can I motivate students to take more interest in their own learning?
RESPONSE: Here’s just one example. Let’s say that you arrange for a guest speaker whose topic relates to some aspect of the course you are teaching. Firstly, it would be proactive to discuss how audience members should behave when a guest is addressing the class; a wise teacher would go over Level C expectations. Remember, [...]
USING REFLECTION TO IMPROVE SPELLING
Through our use of the DISCIPLINE without STRESS approach, my teaching partner and I have come to understand that positive changes in behavior are more likely to occur when we prompt students to think about how they choose to operate in their lives. More and more often, we now practice the DISICPLINE without STRESS Principle [...]
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HOMETASKS
The following post was originally shared on the DWS mailring. It highlights an important DWS teaching attitude–that of choosing to view a negative situation (students doing a poor job of completing and returning homework) as an opportunity to help students to take responsibility. In addition to demonstrating the Principle of Positivity, this post also illustrates [...]
How can I use this approach to motivate students academically?
QUESTION: Can you give me an example of how I can use the DISCIPLINE without STRESS system to motivate young students academically? RESPONSE: Here is an example from my own grade one classroom: Before beginning a journal writing session, I might put two examples of writing on the board. On one sample, I would write [...]
Why does this discipline system refer to homework as “home tasks?”
QUESTION: I understand that teachers using DISCIPLINE without STRESS refer to homework as “home tasks.” Why is this? RESPONSE: Effort for learning, and effort of any other kind–especially employment–need to be clearly differentiated. For example, in Dr. Marshall’s book, the word “homework” appears only in the index. Elsewhere in the book he uses the term, [...]
How do I deal with a lack of student interest?
QUESTION: I am returning to teaching after a 30-year absence and find that discipline is once again my biggest challenge. Among other negative behaviors, lack of interest seems prevalent. Do you have any suggestions? DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Let students know that if they decide not to learn, that is their decision. You will not even [...]
