Discipline Answers

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 [...]

QUESTION: I am very new to the DWS mailring. I’ll be a 2nd year teacher this coming school year and will be implementing this system in my classroom. I did have a concern about grades. Would you please review Dr. Marshall’s views on grades and how they are related to competition? If he discourages grades, [...]

QUESTION: I have a 3rd grade student who is demonstrating increasingly 
disruptive behaviors. I have all kinds 
of support with him – my principal, school counselor, 
behavioral specialist – we’re all involved, every day. This boy can work elsewhere when he can’t manage in the classroom. My question is this: How do I 
teach the [...]

Almost every year, Darlene, my teaching partner, and I, do a dinosaur unit in our primary classroom. As a culmination to a month of learning about dinosaurs and fossils, we always plan a field trip to Darlene’s house, which is located close to a beautiful sandy beach. The “Dinosaur Dig” is often the highlight of [...]

QUESTION: I am still waiting for my Discipline without Stress book to arrive, but this morning I introduced the system to my class anyway. Even though it’s almost the end of the year, I have such big behavior problems that I decided I had nothing to lose and everything to gain! However, I must have [...]

Just this past week, I had a situation in which I was able to use the Hierarchy to help a child named Sarah, feel a bit better about her dealings with a difficult desk partner. I thought I’d share because I think it’s helpful to hear stories of classroom experiences. Additionally I want to encourage [...]

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 [...]

QUESTION: At our school, we have a program intended to create peace in our community. I am being told that I must teach the pledge that goes with this program. Although I do like the idea of encouraging kids to be peaceful, I wonder how a pledge would fit into a Discipline without Stress approach. [...]

QUESTION: Once in awhile, I would love to treat my class to a fancy pencil or a snack just because they are a great group of kids. However, now that I am using DISCIPLINE without STRESS, I pull back because it seems like I am rewarding them. Have you any thoughts on this? RESPONSE: You [...]

QUESTION: I will start teaching next year and would like to get some ideas on behavior management and the use of rewards. I’m looking at a variety of discipline approaches, including DISCIPLINE without STRESS. I have a question: If a teacher does choose to provide extrinsic rewards, what should he or she do to make [...]