Reflections

Philosophy

1. Noncoercive Discipline (William Glasser): William Glasser says noncoercive discipline is the best way. This means that teachers should discipline not in a threatening way, but in a way that lets students see why they behaved the way they did. I think this is an important thing for students to realize. They should understand that they are responsible for their behavior and that they can control it. They shouldn’t be punished for it but informed of what they have done wrong, and they should be given time to see what they can do to fix the problem so it doesn’t happen again.
2. Positive Discipline (Jane Nelsen): Positive discipline is done by accepting responsibility and respecting others. Students are not to feel humiliated when they make mistakes but instead should learn from them. Nelsen says that it is important for students to learn these things in order to develop good relationships both in- and outside of school. I feel this is important because this approach teaches life skills that are important for all students to learn. If it can be demonstrated in the classroom, then it will make a major impact on the students’ lives in the future.
3. Positive Classroom (Fred Jones): Having a positive classroom can influence good behavior. Jones believes that both verbal and nonverbal cues, classroom arrangement, and the teacher can all help to create a positive classroom. By doing these things, the students are able to manage behavior and are rewarded for it. I think this is important for students because they should be rewarded for the good things they do. If they are shown proper behavior, then they will continue it. Starting this process early will allow for smooth years both now and in the future.
4. Inner Discipline (Barbara Coloroso): Inner discipline is to use discipline instead of punishment. By using discipline, students can see what they have done wrong instead of just getting in trouble for what was done. Barbara Coloroso believes that students should take responsibility for their decisions. By doing this, they can create an inner discipline to solve their problems. I think this is important because it allows students to see what exactly they have done and what they can do to fix it. It gives them the opportunity to fix the problem themselves instead of having the teacher or someone else solve it for them.
5. Honor Level System (Budd Churchward): Budd Churchward believes in using honor levels for discipline. These levels are 1-no infractions, 2-one-two infractions, 3-three or more infractions, and 4-frequent behavior issues. The students strive to reach the first level, and they keep track of their behavior themselves. After 14 days, the written warnings they receive for their behavior are erased, and they start over with a clean slate. I think this is important for students because it helps those students who constantly misbehave have a second chance in doing the right thing. It helps them to not have that “misbehaving student” label placed on them. I have seen something similar to this done in a classroom, and it has worked out very well. As a future teacher, I can see using the honor level system for my students as a way to get them to start doing the right thing.
6. Cooperative Discipline (Linda Albert): There are four categories of consequences that Linda Albert came up with. These consequences are to be implemented after any discipline problem. The students are to lose a privilege, lose a freedom of interaction, replace or repair a damaged item or help students that have been offended, and relearn appropriate behavior. No matter what the behavior is that occurred, one of these four consequences can be done. I feel as though these are all appropriate, and any student can do them. All students should do these things anyway, but the only way to get them to do it is to push them.
7. Synergetic Discipline (C.M. Charles): In order to maintain a good classroom, Charles believes that these nine things must be present at all times: trust, ethics, charisma, communication, interest, class agreements, coopetition, human relations, and problem resolution. If one of these is missing, then a classroom can not function properly. I completely agree with this idea. All of the things that Charles looks for in a classroom are things that every teacher should look for. These are basic things that can turn into major life skills for students to learn. This idea helps the students to gain respect for one another, and that in itself stops misbehavior. I will definitely be using this idea in my classroom.
8. Positive Discipline (Jane Nelsen): Class meetings are meetings held by the teacher and the class. The teacher starts the meeting, but the students run it. The point is to show the students that they are cared for by everyone, and the meetings help to erase barriers that could hinder good relationships. Class meetings can be very beneficial in a classroom, and I can see myself using them. I think that these meetings will help to ease fears that the students have about class itself or how other students are feeling. As long as the students are able to be open about their feelings, then I think this will help to decrease the behavior problems and the lack of respect for one another in my room.
9. Raising Responsibility (Marvin Marshall): I feel that it is important for students to be responsible for their own behavior. Marvin Marshall identified four levels of social behavior that the students can assess themselves on. These levels are: A-anarchy, B-bullying, C-cooperation, and D-democracy. In level A, the students are noisy or out of control, and in B, the students are breaking the classroom rules. These two levels are considered to be unacceptable. In level C, the students are cooperative and do what is expected of them. In D, they develop self-discipline and are kind to others. These two levels are what the students should always be doing. I can see myself using this in my room to help give my students a self-check on where they are at on the hierarchy for the day. I think that these levels will help them to realize when they are and aren’t displaying appropriate behavior.
10. Positive Classroom (Fred Jones): Classroom rules, according to Fred Jones, can make or break a classroom. He suggests that general rules be broad while specific rules are more for procedures. These need to be practiced at the beginning of the school year and demonstrated by the teacher. I feel as though I will use this strategy in my classroom because I have seen it work in many other classrooms. The students are able to grasp what is expected of them right away, and that will last for the rest of the school year. Using classroom rules will help to manage the classroom as the teacher does not have to constantly remind the students what is expected of them after they have learned the rules themselves.