Question: I absolutely love the Positive Discipline! have been so passionate about this new way of parenting that I actually got my husband to listen to them. My favorite thing you say is to get excited about a mistake, so that we and our kids can learn from it. Thank you so much for making me […]
Articles
Schedule Special Time With Your Students
by Dr. Jane Nelsen and Dr. Kelly Gfroerer Scheduling special time is one way to create a connection with students. special-time-teacher.jpg When teachers take even just a few minutes to greet students as they come in the door, show concern for students’ problems, or take time for a little one-on-one instruction, the […]
Listening Skills for Teachers
by Dr. Jane Nelsen and Dr. Kelly Gfroerer We have heard students say that it doesn’t do any good to talk because adults don’t listen—they just lecture. Could this be true? And if so, why? We will make some guesses. Most adults think it is their job to teach, and that the best way to […]
The Importance of Connection
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 […]
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 […]
Things Often Get Worse Before They Get Better
crayons-on-wall.jpg by Dr. Jane Nelsen Remember this point so that you won’t become discouraged. Children quite often don’t trust that adults are really willing to listen to them and take them seriously. It may take some time for them to get used to this. At first they may try to use this new power to […]
One Word
one-word.jpg Avoid lecturing and nagging. Use one word as a kind reminder. When agreements are made together in advance, one word is often all that needs to be said. Parenting Tool in Action from San Diego, CA From the Positive Discipline Parenting Tools Book One morning my oldest son, Greyson, who was almost 7 at […]
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 […]
Gratitude and Generosity
by Jody McVittie, MD As the leaves begin to turn vibrant colors and then fall, we enter the season of shorter days and longer nights. It is also, for many of us, a season of holidays and traditions. This can be both exciting and stressful for families. Now, before things start moving really quickly is a […]