1. Building Blocks of an Effective Classroom Meeting
Leadership Academy
September 21st, 2006
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

2. Roadmap for Today’s Presentation…
“The Right To Be A Child and To Make Mistakes”
Rationale
“The Significant Seven”
Classroom Meeting Simulation, Compliments
Commonly Asked Questions
Starting Points
Character Education, Rules/Expectations, Compliments
Sample Agendas
Sample Video
How do Students Feel?
Teacher Success Stories
Resources
Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen, Ed.D.
Websites
Presentation Evaluation
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

3. “The Right to Be a Child and to Make Mistakes”
Januc Korczak is one of the best known European educators from the first half of the 20th century. He was a Polish doctor, teacher, a great advocate of children’s rights. Tragically, he died with his students in the concentration camps. Korczak was so famous the Nazis offered to let him escape the camps, but he chose to remain with his students, knowing that they would be arrested and later murdered. This story is told of him.
In 1919 Korczak was giving a series of lectures at the Institute of Special Pedagogy in Warsaw. His first lecture was titled, “The Heart of the Child.” He asked the assembled group to accompany him with a child he was holding by the hand to the x-ray room of the children’s hospital. The child was placed behind a fluroroscope and the lights in the room were dimmed. Everyone assembled could see only one light. It was the light of the child’s hearbeat. Korczak then stated: “Look, and remember in the future, sometime, when you are tired or angry, when children become unbearable and distract you from your thoughts…remember what a child’s heart looks like.” (quote from Kulawiec, in Brendtro & Hinders, 1990, p. 239)
From The Principal’s Companion, Robbins and Alvy, p. 221
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

4. Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.
What is a Class Meeting?
Proactive classroom management
Community Building Opportunity
This is not one more thing for you to do!
Teachers take the time to address concerns anyway, this is a way to provide your students and you with a structure.
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

5. Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.
The Significant Seven
Three Empowering Perceptions
1. Perception of personal capabilities.
“I am capable!”
2. Perception of significance in primary relationships.
“I contribute in meaningful ways, and I am genuinely needed.”
3. Perception of personal power of influence over life.
“I can influence what happens to me!”
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

6. The Significant Seven Continued…
Four Essential Skills:
1. Intrapersonal Skill: the ability to understand personal emotions, to use that understanding to develop self-discipline and self-control, and to learn from experiences.
2. Interpersonal Skill: the ability to work with others through listening, communicating, cooperating, negotiating, sharing, and empathizing.
3. Strategic Skill: the ability to respond to the limits and consequences of everyday life with responsibility.
4. Judgment Skill: the ability to develop wisdom and evaluate situations according to appropriate values.
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

7. Classroom Meetings Provide:
Problem-solving opportunities
Opportunities to voice opinions and suggestions
Develop interpersonal skills
Dialogue
Sharing
Listening
Cooperation
Negotiation
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

8. Classroom Meeting Simulation “Compliments”
1. Circle up: form a circle and call the meeting to order.
2. Set the agenda: state the purpose and goal of the meeting.
3. Set the rules: establish or review rules for “good talking and listening.”
4. Identify partners: pair up students who will discuss the topic under consideration.
5. Pose the topic….”I am thankful for______ in the Haysville School District.”
6. Personal Thinking Time: give students a silent minute to think about the question individually.
7. Signal for quiet: establish a signal for stopping partner talk in order to begin whole-group discussion.
8. Partner Talk: have partners share thoughts with each other.
9. Whole-group discussion: invite several pairs of students to share their ideas with the group.
10. Close the meeting.
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

9. Commonly Asked Questions:
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

10. Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.
Starting Points
Character Education Mini-Lessons
Rules & Procedures/Expectations
Compliments
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

11. Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.
Sample Agendas
1. Agenda
2. Problem Solving
3. Lessons in Encouragement
4. Secretary’s Binder
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

12. Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.
Sample Video
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

13. Why do you like having Class Meetings?
“I really like giving people compliments because it makes you feel all tingly inside.” Brandon, 5th grade
“What I like about class meetings is we get to talk about our problems.” Katlyn, 5th grade
“I like that we get to talk about stuff happening in our classroom and the changes we can make.”
Emily, 5th grade
“I like having discussions on different things in the classroom and I like to give and get compliments.”
Kathleen, 5th grade
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

14. Teacher Success Stories
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

15. Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.
Resources
Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen, Ed.D.
Websites
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.

16. Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.
Reflections…
Thinking about today’s session, what steps will you take next in your classroom?
Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Jane Nelson, Ed.D.