Teaching and learning has been transformed this year by various models of hybrid, virtual, and remote learning. Along with restructuring and modifying how they deliver education to students, the coronavirus pandemic has prompted educators at every grade level to rethink the role of discipline – the purpose, the structure, and the strategies used. Teachers find Read More »
Continue Reading
OCT
21
2019
What to Do When Students Start Testing Limits
The school year is in full swing: hopes and goals have been established, classroom and school expectations are in place, and learning is in high gear. Everything is off to a great…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
OCT
20
2019
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Re-establishing Balance in Your Classroom
With the changes in fall weather outside, the weather inside the classroom is likely changing too. As a result, teachers often find themselves responding to misbehavior more than they did earlier in…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
DEC
06
2018
Responding to Misbehavior with Empathy
Taking proactive steps to build a strong learning community, with practices like positive teacher language, interactive modeling, and investing students in rules through Hopes and Dreams, does a lot to prevent misbehavior…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
MAY
18
2017
Time-Out: Early, Often, and for Everyone
At least once a year, one colleague or another comes to me and says, “Gina, something is not right. Can you observe my class and see if you can figure out what’s…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
JAN
17
2017
Revisiting Classroom Rules
How often do you revisit classroom rules? Most teachers establish rules at the beginning of the year, and many devote time to modeling and practicing rules with students in the first weeks…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
JUL
13
2015
Public Discipline Systems
Public discipline systems—like Class Dojo, stoplights, moving clothespins along a colored card, writing names on the board—can certainly be appealing. Some days can feel as if they’re spent just disciplining, and public…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
APR
17
2015
Teaching Without Using Rewards
Children build on their strengths, and to do that building—to grow academically and socially—they need us to recognize and encourage their positive efforts. But what’s the best way to offer that recognition…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
FEB
05
2015
Keeping Rules Front and Center During the Winter Slump
Recently I noticed my first graders having more trouble than usual sticking to our classroom rules. Several possible explanations came to mind as I began to reflect:“Am I not doing something I…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
OCT
10
2014
When Children Get Rattled
Remember that children develop new skills over time and at different rates. As they develop greater coping skills, they’ll make mistakes. The calmer you are when they fail to shake off a…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
JUL
28
2014
Time-Out & Teaching Self-Regulation
As a classroom teacher I looked forward every year to teaching students all kinds of academic concepts and skills that would enable them to be engaged and successful in their learning. Organizing…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
JUL
09
2014
Responsive Classroom and PBIS
"Are Responsive Classroom and PBIS compatible with each other? Can our school use both?" We at Responsive Classroom hear this a lot from educators. If you're hearing the same from colleagues, or…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
NOV
04
2013
Bullyproofing Every Day
During Bullying Prevention Month in October, I imagine that many of you planned, presented, or took part in assemblies or whole school meetings about bullying prevention. You may have created posters with…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
MAY
24
2013
Checking In: Helping Students “Catch Themselves”
Often students struggling with emotional behavioral disabilities are overwhelmed by and over-reactive to daily events that seem mundane to others. They become easily stressed and frustrated, can feel out of control, develop…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
APR
16
2013
“We All Get Angry Sometimes”
Just as we teachers help children recognize letters and patterns, manage their belongings, and control their movements, we must also help them identify and manage their emotions. Such self-regulation preserves social relationships…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
JAN
30
2013
Teaching Self-Calming Skills
"You need to calm down." This is something I hear a lot in my work as a behavior specialist when a student starts to get agitated—answering rudely, refusing to work, making insulting…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
DEC
13
2012
Individual Written Agreements
When Justin started first grade, he was prone to violent outbursts. On the very first day of school, after I asked him to complete a reading response task and he threw his…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
NOV
06
2012
The Right Response
I’ve noticed that teachers who are learning about the Responsive Classroom approach to discipline often worry a lot about choosing the “right” response to student misbehavior. “Is there a list of logical…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
SEP
05
2012
What’s in a Rule?
Rules reveal a lot about what is valued in classrooms and schools. Recently, when visiting classrooms in a large school district, I saw vivid examples of how the rules of each room…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
MAY
14
2012
I Didn’t Do It!
What do you do when a student flat-out denies doing something you know (or are at least pretty sure) she did? Are consequences ever appropriate in this situation? Do you just give…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
JAN
27
2012
Bringing Rules to Life
Do you think that without looking, your students could name your classroom's rules? Most teachers establish classroom rules at the beginning of the year, and many devote time to modeling and practicing…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
OCT
24
2011
Three Types of Logical Consequences
Teachers who use the Responsive Classroom approach learn a variety of strategies for responding to misbehavior; logical consequences are one of those strategies. Depending on the child and the situation, teachers might…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
OCT
24
2011
Responding to Misbehavior
No matter how carefully we teach positive behavior, students will still sometimes misbehave. They'll forget the rules, their impulses will win out over their self-control, or they'll just need to test where…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
SEP
02
2011
Punishment vs. Logical Consequences
The use of logical consequences is one part of an approach to discipline used in the Responsive Classroom. It’s a powerful way of responding to children’s misbehavior that not only is effective…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
FEB
23
2011
Time-Out: Avoiding the Punishment Trap
May 2002Question:I have a dilemma about time-out. I tell my students that time-out is not a punishment, but I know it can feel like punishment when I send them to time-out for…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
JUL
26
2010
Success for Substitutes
Just about every teacher needs to be away from the classroom at some point during the year. Whether you're away for a half day, a day, or several days, you'll want to…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
APR
01
2010
Behavior Challenges in the Homestretch?
It's April. It's tempting to think that by now students understand our expectations and know how to behave, so we can all just coast to the end of the year. But, in…
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
Current Category
Other Categories
Building Classroom Community
Building Schoolwide Community
Bullying
Challenging Behaviors
Classroom Organization
Classroom Rules
Conversation Skills
Empathy
Encouragement
Engaging Academics
Family Connections
Language Arts
Misbehavior
Movement
Professional Community
Professional Development
Sharing
Working with Families