Category Archives: Teachers

by Kelly Gfroerer and Jane Nelsen The root of education is educare—to draw forth. 1. Children will listen to you AFTER they feel listened to. 2. When children hear a command, a signal is sent to the brain that invites resistance. When children hear a respectful question, a signal is sent to the brain to […]

Where did we ever get the crazy idea that in order to make children do better, first we have to make them feel worse? —Jane Nelsen Research shows that punitive time-out is ineffective because forced separation from the class denies the student’s basic need for inclusion and belonging.  As far back as 2004 the National Association […]

by Dr. Kelly Gfroerer and Dr. Jane Nelsen Conferences are respectful when parents, teachers, and students are all included.  The Parent-Teacher-Student conference provides an opportunity to create a connection between home and school. 
  Have everyone (parents, teacher, and student) come prepared with answers to these questions:  What is going well? 
  In what areas […]

pd-tools-for-teachers-book.jpg Below is an excerpt from the book, Positive Discipline Tools for Teachers by Dr. Jane Nelsen and Dr. Kelly Gfroerer. Do you sometimes have the feeling that your students don’t hear a word you say? You are probably right—especially when a mistaken goal is involved. For example, if a student’s mistaken goal is Undue Attention […]

caring.jpg Maya Angelou once shared, “I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  Positive Discipline Tools for Teachers help teachers find ways to connect and show they care on a daily basis. Class meetings, giving individual students […]

by Jane Nelsen and Kelly Gfroerer, co-authors of Positive Discipline Tools for Teachers Book and Cards Rudolf Dreikurs shared “Making mistakes is human. Regard your mistakes as inevitable instead of feeling guilty, and you’ll learn better.” Dreikurs’ perspective is supported by current day research. For example, Carol Dweck has found that students who perceive mistakes as […]

Success Story Last week during our class meetings, I noticed a disturbing habit developing among my students. Sometimes they don’t want to switch seats and move away from their best friends, and sometimes they want to be the last one standing (when we do an activity that has us sit down after our turn). Then […]

classroom-jobs.jpg A Positive Discipline Teacher Tool Card Classroom jobs give students an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging and significance by contributing in meaningful ways. Create a room full of helpers to make your job easier while encouraging your students to feel needed and capable. Brainstorm enough jobs for everyone. Examples: Water plants, empty […]

follow-through-teacher-cartoon-web.jpg A Positive Discipline Teacher Tool Card If you say it, mean it, and if you mean it, follow through. The key is to be kind and firm at the same time. “What was our agreement? So, what do you need to do now?” “I know it is hard to experience the consequences of your […]