Positive Discipline in Middle
and High Schools
I need examples of ways to use Positive Discipline in the classroom with middle
school students. I have 6 periods each day, with 43 minutes each (ridiculous).
Class meetings and other strategies need to be applicable for me in that
context. Elementary school teachers ways of implementing strategies often don't
work because of the revolving door/time problem. Which of your products would
help me best?
I think you would find the book
Positive Discipline in the Classroom very
helpful. It was written for Elementary through High School teachers. The way
some teachers have dealt with the logistics you discuss is to have class
meetings every day or every other day for the last 10 minutes of the period. I
will share one story that is included in the above mentioned book. An seventh
grade teacher was concerned about toothpick chewing. She had scolded, pleaded,
nagged. Nothing had worked. Finally she put in on the class meeting agenda as
"her problem" and asked for their help. The kids brainstormed, but didn't come
to a consensus in the 10 minutes allotted for class meetings in the first or
second day. The third day the teacher said, "We still haven't found a solution
to toothpick chewing." One student remarked, "Have you seen anyone chewing
toothpicks lately." The teacher thought about it and replied, "Come to think of
it, I haven't." The student said, "Well, maybe the problem has been solved."
Amazed, the teacher said, "Well, maybe it has." We include this story for
several reasons. One is to show how much can be accomplished in creating an
atmosphere of respect and cooperation just because the kids are involved in
regular class meetings. Another is to show that even 10 minutes a day can work.
It is the process that provides the greater benefit -- and the solutions are a
great fringe benefit.
The last reason is to show that even one teacher can implement class meetings
even if the rest of the faculty doesn't. In some Middle and High Schools, when
the whole staff decides to implement Positive Discipline in the Classroom, they
rotate class meetings. The math teacher may do them on Mondays, Science on
Tuesdays, English on Wednesdays, etc. The whole point is that Positive
Discipline is respectful, it teaches students valuable life skills, and it
creates an atmosphere of caring. Following is one more story from the book,
Positive Discipline in the Classroom:
Earl Lesk provides example of the power of caring through class meetings. Mr.
Lesk, a high school teacher, decided to initiate regular class meetings in his
eleventh and twelfth grade biology classes. He asked his students if they would
like to participate, and they said yes. One eleventh-grade student, who'd had
difficulty in all aspects of the course but finished the semester successfully,
summed up the class's feelings: "By using encouragement and by not forcing
people to do things, the class became more
independent and cooperative, which allowed us to use our own initiative to put
forth a good effort." These teachers and schools have incorporated class
meetings with excellent results. They are just a few of the many who have
experienced tremendous success by starting class meetings. If a teacher is
willing to learn a process that teaches students many valuable skills, that
teacher's job often becomes easier and more fun. Helping students experience
caring, belonging, and significance is the most
powerful thing a teacher can do, motivating them to fulfill their highest
potential, academically and otherwise.
I hope this helps,
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