“You have to reach the heart before you can

reach the head.”

Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Nelson, Ed.D., Lott, M.A., and Glenn, Ph.D. 2000Positive Discipline for Preschoolers, Nelson, Ed.D.

Classroom Meetings in Early Childhood (Ages 3-5)

AGENDA

Philosophy Behind Positive Discipline Classroom Meetings

8 Building Blocks The Agenda/Format

LUNCH BREAK Model a Classroom Meeting Common Concerns and Tips

What is Unique about Positive Discipline Classroom Meetings?

Adlerian Psychology – Humans are inherently social beings

Goal– To teach children early in life to effectively solve social problems through collaboration with their peers.

Model – Students decide topics, total class involvement, specified format, valuable life skills are taught

Primary Needs

1. Perception of Significance in Primary Relationships = Acceptance2. Perception of Personal Capabilities = Competency3. Perception of Power to Influence One’s Own Life = Autonomy

When a child does not feel he or she can belong in a positive way, they may resort to misbehavior in order to fullfill the need to belong.- Positive Discipline in the Classroom, Nelson, Ed.D., Lott, M.A., and Glenn, Ph.D. 2000

“A Misbehaving Child is a Discouraged Child” – Rudolf Dreikurs

The Four Goals of Misbehavior

Undue AttentionMisguided Power

Revenge Assumed Inadequacy

Group Activity

What Do You Really Want for Your Students?

Question: “What characteristics and skills do you think children need in order to be happy, contributing (successful) members of society?”

Write your list of characterisitics/skills to share

Classroom Meetings Empower Students : The Significant Seven

1. “I am capable”2. “I contribute in meaningful ways, and I am genuinely

needed”3. “I use my personal power to make choices that

influence what happens to me and my community”4. “I have self-discipline and self-control”5. “I can work respectfully with others”6. “I understand how my behavior affects others”7. My judgment skills and wisdom are improving

through daily practice”

Classroom Meetings Teach Social Skills

ListeningTaking turnsHearing different points of viewNegotiatingCommunicatingHelping one anotherTaking responsibility for one’s own

behavior

Classroom Meetings Strengthen Academic Skills

Oral skillsAttentivenessCritical-thinking skillsDecision-making skillsProblem-solving skillsDemocratic procedures

Introducing Class Meetings

“No problem is too difficult once it is recognized as a common task.” – Rudolf Dreikurs

Key Ingredients:1. Regularly held meetings 2. Student-generated topics3. The TOTAL class is involved.4. Circle format that creates the kind of order

that allows more freedom for everyone involved.

The Eight Building Blocks for Effective Class Meetings

1. Form a Circle2. Practice Compliments and Appreciations3. Create an Agenda4. Develop Communication Skills5. Learn About Separate Realities6. Recognize the Four Reasons People Do

What They Do7. Practice Brainstorming8. Focus on Solutions vs. Punishments

Building Blocks 2-8

#2 – Practice compliments and appreciations

#3 – Create an agenda for the class

#4 – Listening Skills, Taking Turns, “I” Statements

#5 – Learning about Separate Realities

#6 – Why People Do What They Do, Deal with the Belief Behind the Behavior

#7 – Practice Brainstorming

#8 – Focus on Solutions vs. Consequences, Wheel of Choice or other Problem Solving Cards

Group Activity

Read more about your assigned building block in your guide.

Discuss ways to teach this concept to your classroom.

Design a lesson about this building block to share with the whole class. You may do a mock lesson or create a list of tips/ideas…..

Building Block Three: Create an AgendaMust focus on the problem that affects the group NOT the person (ie: the swings vs. Joe won’t share the swings)

Students and teachers can write what they want to discuss at next meeting.

Use the wall or notebook - teacher assists student in writing topic and name (ie: SWINGS – Sally) or with a picture

The only items discussed are those on the agenda BEFORE the meeting.

Teach the 8 Building Blocks before moving on to problem-solving.

Agenda

Put a problem / concern you have regarding classroom meetings on our agenda to discuss at our classroom meeting after the break.

LUNCH BREAK!

Building Block One : Form a Circle

Activity: Form a Circle

Objective: To create a democratic atmosphere of mutual respect in which everyone has equal rights to speak and be heard.

Class-Meeting Format

1. Compliments and appreciations2. Agenda Items - Solve problems that

affect group3. Follow up on prior solutions4. Future plans (field trips, projects,

etc.)

Common Concerns & Tips Timing – attention span, mood Regularly held – 1x day or 1x week Use special signals Use “TALKING STICK” Building Blocks FIRST Hardest part = Letting go of the need

to direct the proceedings Re-read Positive Discipline

Be Kind & Firm! Reflective Listening – Open Ended

Questions Give it at least one month Takes time to come up with solutions Write your concerns in the agenda Discussion must focus on ACTION not

PERSON Trust the process…….

Six Criteria for Successful Class Meetings

1. Have class meetings regularly! (In elementary years esp.)

2. Teach the building blocks FIRST and re-teach as needed!

3. Focus on solutions instead of consequences.4. Pass an item around the circle (talking stick”, stuffed

animal, etc.)5. Use the class meeting format to address problems

that arise during the meeting. 6. Allow time for training while teachers and students

learn the class-meeting process. Trust the process and use the mistakes as opportunities to learn!!!