Discipline Answers

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! [...]

QUESTION: I teach a class of remediation seniors who have not passed the high school exit exam. They are very difficult to control. Nothing fazes them. There are two or three who simply do not take no for an answer. They ask to go to the bathroom, get a drink, make a phone call. I [...]

QUESTION: Do you think it makes any difference to the success of the DWS program what kind of home the child is from, or what methods the rest of the faculty uses for discipline? DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Re:  Home Life Focus on the behavior––not the “why” for the behavior.  Regardless of the “why,” everyone still [...]

QUESTION: Can anyone tell me please, how the Responsive Classroom Model dovetails with Dr. Marshall’s teachings? I think there are lots of connections and would like to explore them more. RESPONSE: The Responsive Classroom website explains:  ”At the heart of the Responsive Classroom approach are 10 classroom practices.”   Those that are either in common with DWS [...]

QUESTION: I want to implement DWS in my classroom this year. My concern is the fact that I’m required to send home weekly behavior reports rating behavior, completed work, homework etc.  Do weekly reports match this approach? RESPONSE: DWS is based on promoting internal assessments––students reflecting on their own behavior. Typically, schools that use daily/weekly [...]

QUESTION: I am looking for a reflection form for primary students. I know that it won’t be used for a while but I wanted to have something ready.  Can you suggest what one might look like? RESPONSE: At the grade one level that I teach, children have very few writing skills, especially at the beginning [...]

QUESTION: I’m trying to get a handle on this whole concept of guided choices and procedures.  I guess I don’t really understand what a procedure is or how you would use a procedure when a student is misbehaving.  Can you give me an example? DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Teaching procedures is teaching expectations. Here is an [...]

“A River Ran Wild” is the story of a grassroots environmental movement. Inspired by Massachusetts hero, Marion Stoddart, a large group of citizens of all ages, worked diligently for several decades to restore the ecologically-dead Nashua River to its original state. This beautifully illustrated book traces the history of the river––from the days when it [...]

QUESTION: I want to make an banner for my room.  Do you have a good quote that would encourage students to make good choices? DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE: Here’s one I used in my classes: Responsibility finds a way. Irresponsibility finds excuses.  

QUESTION: I have a problem.  My entire school district has been requested to update our classroom discipline plans for review by the new superintendent before the end of August.  My principal knows how I feel about the punitive discipline approach used across our district.  Last year he allowed me leeway––I didn’t have to post rules, [...]