QUESTION:
I really like the idea of sending home a daily behavior report to parents. Now that I am using DISCIPLINE without STRESS, I am thinking that I would like to have my students give themselves a discipline mark at the end of each day. They could mark themselves as having operated on Level A, B, C or D for that day. What do you think?

RESPONSE:
Student self-assessment is one of the key features of the DISCIPLINE without STRESS approach, however, I prefer to teach children to assess themselves–not every DAY–but EVERY MINUTE of the day! What does this mean?

It means that I want them to become more aware of their own behaviour and choices from MOMENT to MOMENT. I want to encourage them to use CHOICE-RESPONSE THINKING in combination with the Hierarchy to take responsibility for their actions–one action at a time. I find that this approach provides a greater opportunity for success than trying to look at improving an ENTIRE day at a time. And of course it follows that if we concentrate on improving our life moment by moment, eventually the days improve too!

Another consideration is the fact that in asking students to assess themselves for the purpose of reporting to parents, we may very well affect their willingness to evaluate their own behavior honestly. I personally prefer to have a student do this type of personal evaluation inside their own head–without asking them to share their thoughts with others. I believe that this approach greatly increases the chance that the student will examine their own actions with honesty. Honest evaluation often leads to positive change.

Print This Post Print This Post
For More Information on Disciplineand Learning Click Here
Posted In: B. General Questions, Reflection
posted On: July 7, 2007: 1:00 pm: By Kerry Weisner
Comments: No Comments