Behavior and Discipline: Positive Discipline

Positive Discipline

Positive Discipline in the Classroom by Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott, and H. Stephen Glenn is based on the previous work of Rudolf Dreikurs. Dreikurs (1996) believed that misbehavior was the result of attempts to find belonging and significance in unacceptable ways. These mistaken attempts at finding belonging and significance result in misbehaviors. Adler (1978) and Dreikurs (1971) created the "Mistaken Goal Chart" that describes various misbehaviors and helps educators to understand the "belief" behind the behavior. Positive Discipline components include:

Mistaken Goal Chart

To view and print pdf files you will need Acrobat Reader.

Creating an atmosphere of caring, dignity and mutual respect.
Using positive discipline classroom management tools.
Holding regularly scheduled class meetings.
Holding parent/ teacher/ student conferences.
Understanding the Four Mistaken Goals for Behavior.
Using the Teachers Helping Teachers Problem-Solving Steps.
Using encouragement.

The Positive Discipline Text identifies punishment, natural consequences, logical consequences or solutions as ways that misbehavior is typically handled. Punishment is never a very good way of handling misbehavior. Logical consequences/solutions should be related, respectful, reasonable, and revealed in order to be effective. Following are explanations of these 4 R's.

Related means that it is directly linked to the misbehavior in some way. (i.e. if someone is late for class they will need to catch up and get notes from another student).
Respectful means that teachers retain a respectful posture when dealing with a student. (i.e. tone and body language are respectful and the teacher communicates what choices are available to the student).
Reasonable means that the consequence or solution doesn't contain any additional punishment. (i.e. when a student cleans up a spill that they made they are not expected to clean all the tables in the lunchroom).
Revealed means that the student knows in advance what the consequences will be.

Staff Development
Idea #7

Positive Discipline in the Classroom, revised 3rd edition, by Jane Nelsen, Ed.D., Lynn Lott, M.A., and H. Stephen Glenn, Ph.D., Prima Publishing.

Children need to understand that they have choices or options that are alternatives to misbehavior. Positive Discipline espouses the use of a "wheel of choice" where several alternatives are posted on a circle. Students are encouraged to look at the wheel of choice for options that may be chosen.

Behavior and Discipline