Discipline Answers

QUESTION:
The biggest problem I have is my students talking when they’re not supposed to. We go through the questions about what level that behavior is and whether it’s appropriate, which they are able to answer just fine.  Yet, when I ask them what they can do next time, all they ever say is “Don’t talk”, [...]

QUESTION:
I teach two 8th grade “behavior modification classes,” mainly composed of students sent to us from alternative school or juvenile hall.  I like the suggestion in your discipline book about holding class meetings but the ones I’ve tried so far have been a disaster.  There is no way that I know of to keep the [...]

QUESTION:
I am a student teacher in a 3rd grade class.  My college says that you should never start a lesson with “Take out your math book.”  Okay… then how do you get the kids to take  out their math books?  My other question is how do you get them to do it right away? It usually takes 3 [...]

QUESTION:
I don’t understand how the teaching of procedures can be used in a discipline situation.  Can you give me an example.
RESPONSE:
The following anecdote is an example of how a Discipline without Stress teacher dealt with misbehavior by introducing some new procedures.
BEING SELF-DISCIPLINED WITH PENCILS!
Having used DwStress for several years now, I understand [...]

QUESTION:
I’m a middle school art teacher. I’ve just read Discipline without Stress, Punishments or Rewards.  I want to use it in my teaching but I’m having trouble understanding expectations vs. rules.  The two sound the same to me just that they have different labels.  I’m not sure if I need to convert what I have used [...]

QUESTION:
I need help with beginning of the year procedures instruction for first grade.
A RESPONSE from a member of THE DwSTRESS MAILRING:
I can tell you a little about what I do with my first graders. The first day of school is all about them going home feeling GOOD about school - their new teacher, class, and school itself.  But it [...]

QUESTION: 
I’ve always started the year by setting up classroom rules.  Usually I keep it simple—just four rules:  Be safe, be respectful, be responsible, be kind.  Would you ever do this as part of the Discipline without Stress approach?  If not, then how do you make students aware of your expectations?
RESPONSE:
Although years ago my teaching partner [...]

Almost every year, Darlene, my teaching partner, and I, do a dinosaur unit in our primary classroom. As a culmination to a month of learning about dinosaurs and fossils, we always plan a field trip to Darlene’s house, which is located close to a beautiful sandy beach. The “Dinosaur Dig” is often the [...]

QUESTION:
Although I use Marshall’s levels, I’m a bit put off by 
the “reverse A-D system,” with D being the best. It goes opposite to how we typically think of grades or levels. 
I’ve finally come up with my own labels. I think they have the 
same meaning but in reverse order.
 Any [...]

QUESTION:

I am still waiting for my DWStress book to arrive, but this morning I introduced the system to my class anyway. Even though it’s almost the end of the year, I have such big behavior problems that I decided I had nothing to lose and everything to gain! However, I must have done something [...]