Solutions

I've been fooling around with an idea based on Barbara Coloroso's constructive teaching approach.  Her philosophies are based off of three basic tenants:

1. Giving them ways to care deeply, share generously, and help willingly.
2. Curb their inclinations to hoard or harm.
3. Stop in its tracks anything that fuels hatred.

By "them" she means the students.  I've still got some work to do but this seems like a good place to introduce my solutions sheets that I've designed in regard to this philosophy.






 I asked my University Facilitator to help me develop these solutions sheets since he had taken a similar approach to classroom discipline and this is what he shared with me:

"Here are the questions I have kids reflect on (in writing) on my "Responsibility Training Plan" sheets.

1)  What did I do?
2)  Why did I do it? (This can sometimes be tough as they are afraid to admit the real reason but often this can be the most valuable question on the paper.
3)  Who was affected by my behaviour? (This should be addressed in the appropriate consequences section of the form.)
4)  What is my plan to correct this behaviour?
5)  What is an appropriate consequence for my behaviour?

I then ask for student and my signature on the paper as the key to the success of this approach is the personal discussion after the form is completed. * You must be satisfied with the responses or the process continues.

Good luck with this type of approach as it isn't for everyone. Boy, was my faculty upset with me when I started this as a high school asst.principal. The immediate responses were, "What kind of punishment is this?" or "You are not being consistent, there should be a set of rules with consequences made clear t the students at the beginning." My response was that, "Every child is different and every situation is different; therefore, every misbehaviour needs to be treated with the intent of having the individual student understand and accept  the impact of their behaviour."


There is plenty of room for improvement and I fully intend to develop this into a more flexible, constructive approach to classroom management!  I would love to see students achieving a level of awareness where they can learn to discipline themselves and accept their own consequences as a result of their actions.