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L.E.S.

District 343

Caught Being Good

I have found that an effective way to manage student behavior is to offer rewards for positive small group behavior. Students will be seated in a group with three or four other children. When a group displays positive behavior, such as following directions or working well together, I will occasionally give them a small wooden coin or "Brown Buck". The group banker will save these coins until they have five of them. Then members of that group will get a crack at a grab bag full of small toys. This system is designed to reward good behavior and to invite students to encourage group behavior that will earn lots of trips to the grab bag.

Our school discipline system is based upon the writings of Psychologist William Glasser, M.D., and educator Jane Nelson Ed.D. I have learned this system as the result of several classes I've taken, books I have read on the topic, and six years of classroom experience.

Positive Discipline requires that children be taught to examine what they really want when they choose not to follow school rules, then to come up with a plan for how they might handle the situation more constructively the next time. They learn how to treat others with respect, how to take responsibility for their actions, and strategies for how they can take time to think before they act.

When misbehavior occurs, I ask the student if he/she is choosing a Planning Time. Students are aware that if the behavior continues they will respectfully be asked to move to the planning desk to write a plan for a better choice for the future. If the plan doesn't work, the student may be sent to another classroom for a Planning Time two and will work on a plan with a different teacher. If this second plan doesn't work, or if there has been some action which puts others in danger, then the student goes to the Principal's office for a Planning Time three and, parents are notified. I my class, any work missed during planning time is made up during recess. Students are helped to see this that this is a direct result of their own behavior.

I see plan writing as a very constructive situation in which children are helped to learn how to behave appropriately. This seems to me as very different from punishment, in which the decisions are made for the child.

Now here's where we need your help. Children through the years have often told me that they are punished when they tell their parents that they have written a plan.

I would suggest that if your child tells you that they have written a plan as a result of their behavior, ask them what their behavior was. Make sure that they realize that they are the one who made the choice, not their friend, not their teacher. Then ask them what they included in their plan for what to do the next time they find themselves in a similar situation. Ask if there is anything that you or their teacher can do to help them stick to their plan. You might even want to offer a reward for not having to write any plans for a certain period of time.

I know we agree that we want to encourage children to solve their own problems and to take responsibility for their own actions. We are partners in your child's education. I would be glad to discuss your ideas, questions, or concerns at any time. Please click on Contact in order to find how to reach me.

Richard Brown, Copyright 2003