Discipline with Dignity Richard Curwin and Allen Mendler Classroom Management EDUC 360

Their major contributions Strategies for –Maximizing dignity and hope within students –Interacting with hostile, aggressive, or violent students

Students misbehave because… Boredom Irresistible They can If their dignity is in danger –To exert control –Do this well since failing academically –Meets the need for attention and power

Characteristics of behaviorally at risk students Failing academically Received most punishments and consequences repeatedly Do not respond to punishments and consequences any more Low self-esteem No hope of success Attracted to other behaviorally at risk students

What works 25-50% of the time… Spend time teaching good behavior and responsibility treat students with dignity and respect Discipline with motivation in mind Stress responsibility not obedience

Logical consequences… Generic –Reminders –Warnings –Choosing Options for student –Planning Student writes with specific steps for changing the behavior Gives student the responsibility Instructional –Teach expectations and rules through suggested appropriate behavior –Opportunity for students to practice and learn appropriate behavior

What to do when behavior escalates… Student refuses to change behavior Use active listening Arrange to speak about the matter later Speak with the student privately Use the insubordination rule

Motivation is the key… Lessons personal to and relevant to students Assessments based on authentic products and skills Activities helping students to connect and interact

Motivating activities… Engage five senses Give opportunities to make decisions Create students’ anticipation

Aggression, hostility, violence Lack of values Lack of compassion Lack of remorse Teach nonviolent choices Model acceptable ways to share feelings Teach values of –Cooperation –Safety –Remorse

So… Create class rules and consequences –Based on school values Model school values through –Your behavior in actual situations –Student role playing Delete interventions –not promoting school values –Not promoting responsibility

When conflict or violence occur… Use privacy Eye contact Politely say what you want Arrange to meet when everyone is calmer Stop…take a breath Think Decide –What needs to happen –Second option Act on decision Assess the results

As you create your plan… Does it promote dignity? Does it teach responsibility? Does it motivate? Does it create commitment?

Go to this website and read… _with_Dignityhttp://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Discipline _with_Dignity Following your reading go to our discussion board on Blackboard and share your opinion of text that impacted your thinking about Discipline with Dignity or classroom management.

Second trip to discussion board… Read responses made by classmates and respond to one or more giving feedback to their responses.

Write a reflection of Discipline with dignity and put in digital drop box Ideas and suggestions you find appealing and compatible with your personality and philosophy Ideas and suggestions with which you disagree Your appraisal of the model – its practicality and –ease of implementation

References Charles, C. (2005). Building classroom discipline (8 th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, INC. Levin, J. & Nolan, J. (2007). Principles of classroom management: A professional decision-making model (5 th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, INC. Manning, M. & Bucher, K. (2007). Classroom management models, applications, and cases (2 nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NY: Pearson Education, INC. Scarpaci, R. (2007). A case study approach to classroom management. Boston: Pearson Education, INC. Weinstein, C. & Mignano, A. (2007). Elementary classroom management: Lessons from research and practice (4 th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.