Uplifting Students vs. Overpowering Them
A teacher shared a few thoughts with me. This year is a surprise for me. I thought I had my revelation last year when I discovered Discipline Without Stress. This year I have implemented the system from the beginning and the painful revelation this year is just how wrong I have...
Reflective Questions for Students and Teachers
Create (or have a student create) a large poster with the following questions clearly visible: 1. What am I learning? 2. How am I learning? 3. Why am I learning? 4. Who am I becoming? Primary students can share their responses with each other. Older students can reflect on the lesson/day...
Raise Responsibility System & Advanced Concepts
Here are some ADVANCED CONCEPTS for using the Raise Responsibility System for DISCIPLINE, for ENCOURAGEMENT, and for PROMOTING LEARNING and ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. DISCIPLINE: After teachers are well into the mode of ASKING students (instead of telling them) to identify a level of chosen...
The Most Satisfying of Rewards
Have a discussion and elicit examples validating the following statement: “Effort becomes a reward, not just a way to a reward.” Have students draw from their personal experiences where exerting effort became as much if not more satisfying than being given a compliment...
Motivation
At an International Reading Association conference, a teacher told me that her students had no motivation. The following is my rather dense “lecture” that I shared with her. (See footnote regarding the term “dense.”) I suggested that every student attending...
How to Personalize a Classroom
All attendees at a conference of The National Association of Secondary Principals (NASSP) received the update of “Breaking Ranks (with the status quo) II: Strategies for Leading High School Reform”—the association’s landmark publication. In addition, thanks to...
Business vs. Education
QUESTION: I just finished reading the epilogue in your book on the problems of using a business model for education. What a breath of fresh air! Thank you for your insights and wisdom. My school district is the only one in the state running on a business model. It’s kind of...
Sharing for Success
Rather than working solely in isolation, learning and working communities collaborate. Here is a simple technique any teacher, principal, parent, or leader can implement. Have people volunteer to relate something that SOMEONE ELSE has done successfully. Then decide on how often this...
Perfectionism—A Wrong Focus
Pursuing perfection focuses at looking for what’s WRONG. On the other hand, pursuing high standards and excellence focuses on what’s RIGHT. Most humans in most endeavors will fulfill their responsibilities more effectively when asked, “Are you satisfied with your...
Influencing A Youngster to Start Kindergarten
The young boy was to start kindergarten the next day and was protesting that he would not go. This could be a real discipline challenge. A normal reaction would have been to banish the youngster to his room and tell him that he had better make up his mind to go because he had no choice....