We’re finally here. Part 12 of 12 in our “Discipline By Design Series.” We’ve covered learning styles and personalities, various ages, specific developmental problems, and the more difficult discipline issues that can arise. For this last issue, I want to discuss how the climate of your home or classroom plays a major role in either increasing [...]

Recently I was speaking at a MOPS group and a Mentor Mom spoke before me on the importance of kids needing time to simply be kids. As a talented and passionate piano teacher, she shared with us a little secret about her selection process for accepting potential piano students: she has the kids fill out [...]

Last week we addressed how fear and a need for attention and love often drive an elementary-aged child to act out. To help this child, we need to treat them with respect, respond rather than react, and defuse the situation by remembering not to take it personally but instead be empathetic in our interactions with [...]

Last week we discussed some ways we can cultivate the climate for preschool-aged children. Today our focus will be on helping difficult elementary students find peace and balance at home and in school. At the core of any disruptive or difficult child are deep hurts and a hunger for love and attention. Much of their [...]

This article originally appeared in my monthly newsletter this past March. What do you think about this time of the year when Easter is almost upon us? Do you look forward to springtime weather and new life? Are you anticipating the Easter Sunday service and saying “He is risen, indeed!” in unison with the church [...]

This post originally appeared in 380 Guide‘s recent publication. At first glance, these A,B,C,D’s aren’t very cheery; in fact, they could be perceived as downright depressing. Just reading these words might make you want to go back to bed or find a fairy tale version of parenting in which you know the ending will be “and they [...]

Now that you’ve done your prep work in parts 1-5 and created your own system of discipline, we can shift our focus from theory to practice and see what discipline looks like in the classroom and home. Beginning with preschool-aged children and moving all the way through high school, over the next five weeks we [...]

It’s time to design your own customized discipline plan. While this might sound intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. But it does require planning beforehand. As we discussed in Part Two of the series, discipline procedures need to be in place from day one – whether in the home or in the classroom. How you put that [...]

Last week we discussed some negative forms of discipline that we want to avoid. This week we will focus on positive ways to discipline by utilizing a child’s personality through the concept of multiple-intelligences. Both the classroom and the home are mini-societies in which we need order and an environment that fosters respect for each other’s differences [...]

In Part 1 I discussed the value of taking the time to understand the various personalities and temperaments in your classroom or home so you are prepared for those individuals who are not exactly like you and often confuse you with their behavior. Today I want to focus on the importance of cultivating positive classroom discipline [...]