Jane Nelson and Lynn Lott
Positive Discipline
Laura Clucas and Jessica Barnas
Jane Nelson
• Background
– Licensed marriage,
family, and child
therapist
– Author of many books
– Practices in Utah and
California
Lynn Lott
• Background
– Licensed family therapist
– Has written over 18 books
– Has been in private practice
for over 30 years helping
parents, couples and
individuals with
relationship issues
Positive Discipline
FIVE CRITERIA FOR POSITIVE
DISCIPLINE
1.Helps children feel a sense of connection.
2. Is mutually respectful and encouraging.
3. Is effective long - term.
4.Teaches important social and life skills
5.Invites children to discover how capable
they are.
Nelson and Lott
• Use relationship builders while avoiding
relationship barriers
– Five pairs of teacher behaviors that can
nurture or inhibit relationships between
teacher and students
– They can guarantee 100% improvement in
student-teacher relationships
Builder 1
• Builder 1:Checking
– See how student think and feel about class
expectations and other matters
• Barrier: Assuming
– teachers assume that they know students
feelings
Builder 2
• Building 2: Exploring
– Allow students to explore and perceive
situations for themselves and proceed
accordingly
• Barrier: Rescuing/ Explaining
– Avoid lengthy explanations
– Avoid rescuing students from difficulties
Builder 3
• Builder 3: Inviting/ Encouraging
– Encourage cooperation, contributions, and
self direction
• Barrier: Directing
– Don’t use commands
– Teachers don’t realize they are being
disrespectful when using demands
Builder 4
• Builder 4: Celebrating
– Hold high expectations
– Believe in student potential
• Barrier: Expecting
– Students become easily discouraged when
negatively judged
Builder 5
• Builder 5: Respecting
– Speak with children as social equals
• Barrier: Adult-isms
– Teachers statements that tell student what
to do
– Sounds like a parent speaking to naughty
children
Conclusion
• Using the 5 steps will lead to a better
functioning classroom
• By simply not using the barriers it will
lead to better relationships between the
teacher and the students
• Adding builders will make the pay-off
greater
References
• Building Classroom Discipline
• http://www.positivediscipline.co
m/
• http://www.lynnlott.com/
•Smart Board Activity