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A review by becca_osborn
Positive Discipline in the Classroom: Developing Mutual Respect, Cooperation, and Responsibility in Your Classroom by H. Stephen Glenn, Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott
3.0
Positive discipline is the idea of using class meetings and mutual respect to run a classroom.
I think several of the ideas used in this model are fantastic: the wheel of choice, encouraging teachers to understand why they react the way they do, and talking to children with respect. Most importantly, this book helped me realize that when I'm asking children what's happening and when we talk about choices we're making, I'm not messing up or giving too much freedom. I'm helping them feel valued and important. I feel children can feel valued and important even with reward/punishment methods. It also reminded me that children are very capable of solving their own problems, and even more so if they have a good guide who can help them make sense of emotions.
However, there are several aspects of positive discipline that won't work in my classroom scenario, especially since our day-to-day (extended care) begs a lot of flexibility and "thinking on feet" for activities and scheduling (and I'd be the only teacher using this model, which could be confusing for younger students). Most of my conflicts are specific to my classroom DNA, but the one I had the most conflict with was that reward/punishment models are damaging. Without getting into educational theories, I just respectfully disagree. The writers also said that many of their "puzzle pieces" could not be used in a reward/punishment environment––I also respectfully disagree here. I fully admit that I am not the best teacher, and maybe part of the problem is that I am not willing to give up power, one of the biggest struggles mentioned in this book. I'm willing to own that.
Again, I have no problem with those who use this program! I think teachers can still encourage students to make positive choices both with this method, and also while using a reward/punishment method. It all depends on the child and the school system. My needs call for handling situations in a different way than this book suggests, but I have been using several of these tactics, and they work.
I'd recommend this book for teachers who are dissatisfied with some manipulative aspects of teaching and authority. Positive discipline isn't a perfect system (and no system is) but there are some great ideas to glean from here.
I think several of the ideas used in this model are fantastic: the wheel of choice, encouraging teachers to understand why they react the way they do, and talking to children with respect. Most importantly, this book helped me realize that when I'm asking children what's happening and when we talk about choices we're making, I'm not messing up or giving too much freedom. I'm helping them feel valued and important. I feel children can feel valued and important even with reward/punishment methods. It also reminded me that children are very capable of solving their own problems, and even more so if they have a good guide who can help them make sense of emotions.
However, there are several aspects of positive discipline that won't work in my classroom scenario, especially since our day-to-day (extended care) begs a lot of flexibility and "thinking on feet" for activities and scheduling (and I'd be the only teacher using this model, which could be confusing for younger students). Most of my conflicts are specific to my classroom DNA, but the one I had the most conflict with was that reward/punishment models are damaging. Without getting into educational theories, I just respectfully disagree. The writers also said that many of their "puzzle pieces" could not be used in a reward/punishment environment––I also respectfully disagree here. I fully admit that I am not the best teacher, and maybe part of the problem is that I am not willing to give up power, one of the biggest struggles mentioned in this book. I'm willing to own that.
Again, I have no problem with those who use this program! I think teachers can still encourage students to make positive choices both with this method, and also while using a reward/punishment method. It all depends on the child and the school system. My needs call for handling situations in a different way than this book suggests, but I have been using several of these tactics, and they work.
I'd recommend this book for teachers who are dissatisfied with some manipulative aspects of teaching and authority. Positive discipline isn't a perfect system (and no system is) but there are some great ideas to glean from here.