POSITIVE DISCIPLINE Amy Diorio, M.Ed.

Setting the Stage  What are we going to talk about?  Let’s talk about it  Let’s Review  Positive Discipline Setting your classroom When it falls apart Last resorts!

Keys to Positive Discipline  Step 1 – Establish the expectations  Routines  Guidelines  Never leave them guessing  Be Organized, Be Proactive  Stay 1 step ahead – plan for the problem BEFORE  Explain it multiple times, multiple ways Oral, visual, non-verbal, etc…

Keys to Positive Discipline  Step 2 – Practice makes perfect  Model it for them  Guided practice  Practice it until it is correct – CRITICAL! Stop only when they have shown you the right way

Keys to Positive Discipline  Step 3 – Remind them often  Gentle reminders frequently  Oral  Non-verbal  Stop and do a refresher if bad habits are trying to take root

Now you have them…Now What?

When Good Kids Go Bad!

Positively Do NOT…  Let’s start with what NOT to do…  Yell  Nag  Time Out  Hit  Compare  As them Why?  Curse  Openly addressing a behavior STOPS instruction

What Does Work  Planning it out – Breakdown Areas?  Transitions  Lunch, snack  Potty time  Bored!!!!  Nonverbal Cues  Touch  The Look  A signal  A sound

What Does Work  Praise what is right  I love the way Johnny is sitting  I love the way everyone is lined up straight (Be specific)  Stress what you want to see  Use your walking feet  Let me hear your inside voice

What Does Work  Make it a Game  Who can show me their ears?  Who can show me their listening ears?  Who can turn on their listening ears?  How many of you can sit criss-cross-applesause?  Let’s walk down the hall like penguins.

What Does Work  Physical Proximity  As you continue on, move closer to them  Or keep your friends close and enemies closer!  The Helper  Keep hands busy  Gives them a job – something to do

When all else fails…  As a last resort…  Use an alternate activity if a child must be removed  Talk about choices…Instruct on how to make a better one next time!  When dealing with an older child, ensure he can verbalize what happened  Ask the Director to come to the classroom for support if needed  With the Director, enlist the parent, behavior plan

What Does Work…Sum it up!  Be a positive teacher in a positive classroom!  Be organized, efficient  Have a plan  Let the kids know the expectations  Practice them, guide them, remind them  PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE  Remind them of what you want to see  PRAISE SOME MORE

Best Practices  What strategies work for you?