Discipline

“Parenting Without Stress – How to Raise Responsible Kids While Keeping a Life of Your Own” is an award-winning book that is worth viewing at Piper Press.  … >>>

Here are some additional ideas from Kerry of British Columbia. Note: More of Kerry’s and other posts have been categorized by her at Discipline Answers.

As part of your sessions you could do some role playing. Students love drama activities. You could also read and discuss stories, identifying levels the characters play. Here are a few messages from the Discipline Without Stress mailring Archives that might give you some ideas: Messages #82,  #559, #586 and #1179.

Although most of the these posts are examples from the primary grades, they might spark an idea for how to use books at other grade levels, too. Members of the Discipline Without Stress mailring who teach middle school have said that even teenagers … >>>

QUESTION:

I am very interested in using this system in counseling students individually and in classroom guidance. My question is: Will the system work, even though I only see the students for 30 minutes every other week, and even if the classroom teacher is not using the system? From your experience are there any hints or suggestions to make the system work in this situation?

RESPONSE (by Kerry):

You’re in a great position to teach and use the RRSystem! It can certainly be used effectively in both situations you mention:
–with the students you see on an individual basis and
–as part of your classroom guidance lessons.

With students you see individually, begin by teaching the hierarchy in the … >>>

Jim wrote me the following regarding his teaching:

I am a returning math teacher who has worked in business most of my life. Had a tough time teaching last year. Thought I could just teach the subject and didn’t give any thought to managing the classroom. Got a rude awakening.

I figure if I can guide the students into being courteous to one another, we can then have meaningful conversations  about math. One of the best ways to learn math is to express it in English.

The suggestion I gave Jim is the one I gave to high school teachers in Georgia using math as an example.

I suggested they start each lesson by giving students a problem. Grappling with … >>>

You can view parts of "DISCIPLINE WITHOUT STRESS^® PUNISHMENTS or REWARDS: HOW TEACHERS and parentS PROMOTE RESPONSIBILITY and LEARNING" online at Amazon's "Search Inside."

Here is how to do it. On Amazon's home page, in the SEARCH box on the left side, ENTER: Marvin Marshall. Then click on "Go."

When the book appears, click on the book cover or the title. When the book is in view, click on "LOOK INSIDE."

You can navigate these pages by using the left or right ARROWS in the MIDDLE of each page—or by using the "Previous Page" or "Next Page" links on the top and bottom of the pages.

Notice the number of five (5) star reviews.… >>>

I spoke in Cambridge, Massachusetts to college and university professors who prepare future teachers.

I suggested that they have a dilemma. They wish to expose future teachers to various approaches to discipline. With this in mind, they use textbooks which share a number of discipline approaches, such as C.C..Charles’ Building Classroom Discipline. (Incidentally, the Raise Responsibility System is included in the more recent editions.)

Unfortunately, when their students are asked at the end of their course whether or not they feel confident to walk into their first classroom knowing good classroom management procedures and having a discipline approach that is “user friendly” for both teacher and student, these future teachers inevitably answer in the negative.

We expose future teachers … >>>

QUESTION:
This has been my most challenging year of teaching ever. I have been at the end of my rope many times. I have looked all year for something new to help me and my students. I was very excited to learn about your ideas at the IRA
(International Reading Association) convention. I know good classroom management begins on day one, but do you have any survival tips for the end of year? I really want to end the year positively so that we all feel good on the last day. It seems impossible as the problems have been worsening all year—everything from no supplies and tardiness to flat refusal to follow even simple directions like, "Please come here." I … >>>

A Junior High School Newsletter Article (Emphasis added)
By Joel Hollingsworth, Principal
Selah Junior High School
Selah, Washington

Junior High School is a time for adolescents to make choices—but also to rely on the guidance and counsel of adults who are important in their lives. At Selah Junior High School, we use FOUR LEVELS OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT to help us DISCIPLINE, or TEACH, our students how to SUCCEED AT SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.

The first two levels are not acceptable at school.

ANARCHY is the absence of order and is characterized by chaos. Next is BULLYING or BOSSING which is characterized by bothering or bossing others and breaks our standards at school.

The top two levels are both acceptable at … >>>

“This book provides the tools to create an enriched learning environment. It provides practical applications, thoughtful suggestions, and excellent insights to improve teaching and learning in any classroom.”

Al Katz, Classmeeting Program
William Glasser Institute

A descriptive table of contents, three selected sections, and additional items of interest are posted at: DisciplineWithoutStress.com.… >>>

QUESTION:

I am still having difficulty with a few 9th grade girls who have been recently discharging negativity during instruction. When I gave a girl a form to reflect and complete this week she complied, but held onto very hostile feelings towards me because I didn’t give anybody else the form.

Despite the fact that I maintained empathy and talked to her privately about it, she would not let go of her feelings of unfairness. She is a youngster with emotional problems.

Should I be dealing any differently with emotionally impaired kids? Some of these 9th grade girls are very tough street-wise, Detroit kids with a chip on their shoulders.

I use tutoring to build rapport, but I can’t make … >>>

"Dr. Marshall's book addresses many concerns voiced by new and continuing teachers. This book can serve as a powerful and practical resource for educators and parents alike."

—Martha Evans, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, West Covina Unified School District and Senior Adjunct Professor, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA

A descriptive table of contents, three selected sections, and additional items of interest are posted at: http://www.DisciplineWithoutStress.com.… >>>

QUESTION:

I currently teach at the last stop for kids with behavioral problems along with drug abuse. Classroom management and discipline has to be consistent and talked about on a regular basis or the students that just arrived will not buy into the program. Your plan on discipline appears to be working. There are a few problems that I have noticed, such as:

1. It is hard to break old habits such as yelling and screaming.
2. Some students expect the yelling.
3. Some teachers won’t buy in on this style of discipline.
4. Some students don’t understand the mechanics of this style, especially when it works.
5. Teachers using different discipline plans tend to confuse the students.

I would … >>>

The following was a question and response at the support group.

QUESTION:

I am considering a “rough draft” to modify the description of the levels. My “rough draft” follows:

Level D – Democracy – Shows caring, kindness, respect, responsibility, and honesty because of INTERNAL motivation.

Level C – Compliance – Shows caring, kindness, respect, responsibility, and honesty because of EXTERNAL motivation.

Level B – Bothering – Bothers others which is neither appropriate nor acceptable.

Level A – Anarchy- Absence of order; aimless; procedures are not followed. Neither appropriate nor acceptable.

The above is my understanding and modification of the system.

Additionally, I am somewhat bewildered why there is a defined difference between anarchy and “bothering others” because, to me, … >>>

Perhaps the most respected, influential, and most cited journal in the field of education is the PHI DELTA KAPPAN. The publisher, Phi Delta Kappa International (PDK), is an international association whose mission is to promote high quality education, in particular publicly supported education, as essential to the development and maintenance of a democratic way of life. This mission is accomplished through leadership, research, and service in education.

PDK has established a new category of membership designed to serve non-educators—parents and others interested in education. Subscription to the PHI DELTA KAPPAN is included in the membership.

If you are interested in keeping informed of educational practices, theories, and controversies, you are invited to join Phi Delta Kappa International. For information, contact … >>>

On this day, February 12, a few years after speaking to a school district in New Jersey, I asked the school principal (who convinced the district to have me present) how she originally found out about Discipline Without Stress. She told me that she heard me at a conference of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and had asked someone who was assisting with handouts about his reaction to the program. The Arizona principal told her, “Those teachers who implement the system are sad when school ends; those who do not are glad when school is over.”

The New Jersey principal has been implementing the system for the past number of years and has convinced the entire … >>>