Discipline Answers

QUESTION: First day of school yesterday. I have about 31 4th/5th graders. Morning started off great, went downhill from there. I’m going to introduce the RRS essay tomorrow. DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: If on the second day of school, essays are used, it means that many of the steps of the Teaching Model have been missed entirely. Some considerations: 1. [...]

Every once in a while, the subject of school awards comes up on the DWS mailring.  Usually the person is concerned that their school requires teachers to present student awards.  The concern is that this thinking doesn’t mesh well with the philosophy of someone wanting to foster internal motivation. On another mailring recently, I read [...]

A note of encouragement to teachers using DWS for the first time––from a member of the Yahoo DWS support group: I’d like to say something to teachers who might be struggling to use DWS for the first time.  I was in your place a couple of years ago.  I think one early mistake that I made––that [...]

QUESTION: If 95% of the kids are attentively listening, but two boys are making faces to each other and laughing, clearly not paying attention, how do you refocus them without calling them out in front of the class?  I get that it’s more effective to ask them about their behavior, but I wonder if I can I [...]

Dr. Marshall suggests that it is important to replace rules with procedures and expectations. Recently I took time to ask about a list of Rights and Responsibilities I noticed hanging on the wall of one alternative high school site that I visit regularly in my position as literacy teacher.  I learned that a number of [...]

QUESTION: I have 5 kids in my second grade class who take most of my attention because of their misbehavior.  I feel so badly for the other students who are on task and listening, because honestly, they don’t get very much of my attention.  I try to point out what Level D looks like and [...]

QUESTION: I’m moving grades this year.  I’m so used to first grade procedures that I can’t really visualize how things should be done in fourth grade?  What procedures do you think will be the most important to go over at the beginning of the year? RESPONSE: I taught grade four for many years before I [...]

QUESTION: I’ve decided to post the following expectations in my classroom.  Does this fall in line with the DWS philosophy? a)    Be polite and helpful b)    Do not hit, shove, name-call, tattle, or hurt others c)    Get permission before speaking d)    Get permission before leaving your seat RESPONSE: Here are some thoughts for your consideration: [...]

The following story was shared by teacher, Marie Swift, regarding the power of using the three DWS Principles; Positivity, Choice and Reflection. I would like to share a situation that happened recently in my Grade One class.  I have been using DWS for a few years now I firmly believe that we have to approach behavior [...]

QUESTION (Part One): I’ve heard you say “The person who asks the questions controls the conversation.” However, I have a child in my first grade class this year who refuses to answer any of my reflective questions. DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Try: If you are not happy and would like me to help you, let me [...]