by Dr. Jane Nelsen “You have to reach the heart before you can reach the head.” I first heard this statement while reading an article about Carter Bayton in a September, 1991 issue of Life Magazine. Carter Bayton was asked to work with thirteen 2nd grade boys who were considered so disruptive that they couldn’t […]
Category Archives: Teachers
Encouragement vs Praise for Teachers
encouragement-vs-praise-teacher.jpg by Dr. Kelly Gfroerer and Dr. Jane Nelsen, authors of Positive Discipline Tools for Teachers Book and the Positive Discipline Teacher Tool Cards So, what is the difference between encouragement and praise? Praise teaches dependency on external feedback (I’m “okay” if you like what I do, and I feel badly if you don’t […]
One Word
one-word.jpg Avoid lecturing and nagging. Use one word as a kind reminder. For the towel left on the floor: “Towel” When the dog has not been fed: “Dog” For the dishes in the sink: “Dishes” When it is time for the bedtime routine: “Bedtime” When agreements are made together in advance, one word is often […]
Limited Choices Teacher Tool
Excerpt from Positive Discipline in the Classroom by Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott, and H. Stephen Glenn Many difficult problems seem easier to solve when choices are presented as solutions. As the teacher, you can help your students succeed by offering an appropriate choice between at least two acceptable solutions. The key words here are appropriate and […]
Role Playing With Students
by Dr. Kelly Gfroerer and Dr. Jane Nelsen role-playing-text.jpg From the Positive Discipline Teacher Tool Cards Role-playing is a fun and engaging way for students to learn and practice important life skills. Evidence-based studies identify the importance of integrated daily practice of social and emotional learning and specifically cite role-plays as an important participatory element. “Role […]
GOAL DISCLOSURE
by Dr. Kelly Gfroerer and Dr. Jane Nelsen goal-disclosure-cartoon.jpg Wait for a calm time (not during conflict) to talk with a student in private. A friendly atmosphere is essential. Ask the student for permission to make guesses about why he or she is behaving in a certain way. Let the student know that he or […]
Self Care for Teachers
by Dr. Jane Nelsen and Dr. Kelly Gfroerer Taking care of yourself is the best gift you can give your students. Make a list of the things you like to do that feed your heart, your body, your mind, and your soul. Get out your calendar and make time for yourself EVERY day. Give up […]
I Messages
Excerpt from Positive Discipline Tools for Teachers by Dr. Jane Nelsen and Dr. Kelly Gfroerer i-messages-cartoon.jpg Too often students (and adults) blame others for their feelings by saying, “You make me feel _____.” This is not true. No one can make anyone else feel something. They might invite you to feel something, but you always […]
Control Your Behavior for Teachers
Excerpt from Positive Discipline Tools for Teachers by Dr. Jane Nelsen and Dr. Kelly Gfroerer Do you sometimes expect your students to control their behavior when you have not controlled your own? We don’t mean to instill guilt; rather, we want to create awareness. We often catch ourselves behaving in ways we aren’t proud of […]
Kind and Firm for Teachers
Below is an excerpt from Positive Discipline Tools for Teachers by Jane Nelsen and Kelly Gfroerer. As a teacher, do you have a tendency toward being a little too kind, and have difficulty being firm? (You don’t want to be one of those mean, autocratic teachers.) Or are you a little too firm because you […]