Jane Nelsen and Lynn Lott content that almost all students can learn to behave with dignity, self-control, and concern for others. The key to fostering this development is providing structure that allows students to see themselves as capable, significant and able to control their own lives.

Relationship Barriers› Assuming › Rescuing/Explaining› Directing› Expecting› Adult-isms

Relationship Builders› Checking› Exploring› Inviting/ Encouraging› Celebrating› Respecting

Group 1› Char and DanielGroup 2› Nicole and RobbieGroup 3› Kelley and Sam Group 4› Michelle and AustinGroup 5› Miss Strantz and Kyler

“We guarantee 100% improvement in student-teacher relationships when teachers simply learn to recognize barrier behaviors and stop demonstrating them. Where else can you get such a generous return for ceasing a behavior? And when the builders are added, the payoff is even greater.”

Nelsen and Lott believe classroom meetings are uniquely suited to implementing the tactics they suggest for building positive discipline.

Social SkillsListening Taking TurnsHearing Different Points of View

NegotiatingCommunicatingHelping One AnotherTaking Responsibility for One’s Behavior

1. Form a Circle2. Practice Giving Compliments and Showing

Appreciation3. Create an Agenda4. Develop Communication Skills5. Learn about Separate Realities6. Recognize the Reasons People Do What

They Do7. Practice Role-Playing and Brainstorming8. Focus on Nonpunitive Solutions

Express compliments and appreciationFollow up on earlier solutions applied to problems Go through agenda itemsMake future plans for class activities

If at first not successful give it timeIf still not successful after time then› Be sure you formed a circle› Make sure you are having meetings regularly› Make sure you censor what students say› Do not talk down to students instead show

faith in their abilities› Make sure every student has a chance to

speak

Strengths› Builds good

relationship with teacher and students

› Helps build community with class meetings

› Allows students to see themselves as capable, significant and able to control their own lives

Weaknesses› TIME! Most teachers

do not have time to conduct class meetings in their class during school

› If class meetings are done outside of school the students who would benefit the most would most likely not attend

Charles, C. M. (2008). Building classroom discipline. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Websites› www.positivediscipline.com› www.empoweringpeople.com