As the number of discipline problems in schools continues to rise, it becomes more obvious that coercive and punitive practices commonly used to make children behave are not entirely effective. This workshop will help teachers and administrators find alternatives to traditional punishments and learn to solve discipline problems rather than trying to suppress disruptive behaviors. Classroom discipline can be achieved while still maintaining the dignity of the student and promoting respect and responsibility. Educators who find the balance between structure and caring have classrooms where disruptions are reduced and students can learn and thrive. In this workshop, participants will learn and to effectively establish appropriate structure, use positive reinforcement, and employ communication and problem solving skills that will encourage cooperation and boost self-esteem. You will:

• Be able to model respect and caring for your students.
• Have learned to create a caring classroom community.
• Have identified ways to provide effective structure and rules for your classroom.
• Be able to use alternatives to traditional punishments.
• Have the skills to effectively use positive, negative and corrective consequences in your classroom.
• Have practiced communication skills that model respect for your student’s feelings.
• Have learned pro-active strategies to improve cooperation in your classroom.
• Understand how to use the problem-solving model with students to solve classroom problems.
• Have learned strategies for improving intrinsic motivation in your students.

Benefits of attending. You will have:
A more positive relationship with your students.
More cooperative, caring students.
More effective communication skills.
A classroom that is more orderly and respectful.
Fewer disruptions and will devote less time to discipline.
Students who are more motivated to learn.

Attendees
Teachers in grades K-12, principals, special-education teachers, teachers’ aides.

Outline

8:30 - 10:00
- Introduction - Creating a Positive Class Climate and Rules
Introduction/Rational - 10 min.
Model respect and caring - 30 min.
Create a caring classroom - 30 min.
Rules - 20 min.

10:30 - 11:45
- Alternatives to Punishment and Using Consequences
Using alternatives to punishment - 40 min.
Using consequences - 35min.

12:45 - 2:00
- Improve Communication and Cooperation, and Using
Problem Solving
Communication and cooperation - 45 min.
Problem solving - 30 min.

2:30 - 3:20
- Increasing Intrinsic Motivation and Summary
Intrinsic Motivation - 40 min.
Summary - 10 min.