Welcome to DISCIPLINE ANSWERS The intention of DISCIPLINE ANSWERS is to offer support to educators and parents using Dr. Marvin Marshall’s DISCIPLINE without STRESS approach to promote self-discipline and responsible behavior. Kerry Weisner, a teacher of more than 30 years, from British Columbia, Canada, shares her own enthusiasm, experiences and thoughts, as well as those of Dr. Marshall, and members of the DISCIPLINE Without STRESS mailring. The goal is to encourage and help those who see value in motivating youth to act from a place of internal motivation. Most questions featured on this site were originally posed on the DISCIPLINE without STRESS mailring: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Disciplinewithoutstress/ Kerry shares three teaching positions, all with the same partner: a grade one classroom and two literacy positions, working with struggling readers aged 12-19, at a regular middle school and an alternate high school. Please feel free to respond or share your own experiences by using the comment box under each entry. |
One day last February we learned that a new boy would be joining our grade one class. In an effort to be proactive, my teaching partner, Darlene, planned a class meeting the day before he arrived. She wanted to encourage the students to welcome the new child and she also hoped to avoid a situation [...]
I’m confused. How can I incorporate DWS into “Fun Friday?”
QUESTION: I’m going to start using DWS in my classroom this coming year. My grade level uses Fun Friday/Study Hall. I’m confused on how I can incorporate DWS into Fun Friday. Am I just overthinking this issue? RESPONSE: I have no personal experience with Fun Friday/Study Halls but I gather it’s a reward for those [...]
A completely silent management signal
A couple of summers ago, I attended a Smartboard workshop for teachers in our district. The presenter from the company had an effective signal for getting everyone’s attention. For two years since, I’ve used the idea successfully with my grade ones. I don’t use this particular signal when I’m in a rush to get everyone’s [...]
Isn’t an adult paycheck the same thing as a reward?
QUESTION: What is a good response to people who argue that extrinsic rewards are okay for students because they’re just the same as an adult getting a paycheck at the end of the week? When people say this, I cringe. I know it’s not the same, but I don’t know how to argue the point [...]
The Importance of Believing in Others
Featured this week on TED.com is a rare 4 minute video clip taken from a 1972 lecture by Victor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning. You may remember that in the early pages of the DWS book, Dr. Marshall mentions Victor Frankl. Dr. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, dramatically demonstrated through his own actions and [...]
How can I help a student who constantly blurts out?
RESPONSE: When there is a discipline issue, my first course of action is to return to the DWS Teaching Model. Guided by the first step, I review my procedures: Have I taught/practiced this particular procedure enough times for this child to be successful? Can I offer this child a chance to find his own procedure or [...]
I’m hoping to find a list of picture books to introduce the four DWS levels.
Here is a list of picture books compiled by one teacher on the DWS mailring. Level A Books – Anarchy Mean Soup, by Betsy Everitt Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink, by Diane deGroat Miss Nelson is Missing, by Harry Allard We Share Everything, by Robert Munsch Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes [...]
QUESTION: Do you feel I can implement this successfully with 5th graders or is it geared more to the lower grades? RESPONSE: DWS is very effective with grade fives! Dr. Marshall first developed this approach for middle and high school students. It’s since been adapted for use with younger students in intermediate and primary grades––although [...]
How can I control voice levels during centers?
QUESTION: I’m looking for some different things to try to control the student voice level during centers. I really don’t believe that whispering is a natural thing for anyone, adults included. That said, in order for me to work with small groups I need them to be quieter than their regular talking voice level. I [...]
For some students, they see “sub” and think “anarchy!”
QUESTION: As a grade 7-12 substitute teacher, I was thinking of “travelling” with the ABCD poster and briefly explaining it, but I wondered if that would be too disruptive to kids if I’m only with them for a day or two. I’m finding that getting good behavior as a sub is far more difficult than [...]
