On 7/23/09, laura wrote:
> Is there any way I could get a copy of the things you should do
> and things you should not from you? What sort of discipline
> things do you have in your hand book? We are looking to add
> things about facebook and my space but not sure of the
> wording... thank you

Discipline -

The book states:

"Tips for Correcting Children and for Training Children in
Appropriate Behavior"

(Again - common sense things - but good to have in writing so they
know what you expect)

-When correcting any child, try to get down on the child's level
and look into his/her face.
-Speak, not in a loud voice to fill the room, but in a moderate
voice for the chiod you are speaking with to hear.
-If age appropriate, have the children repeat back to you what they
hear you saying, so you will know if they understand your intent.
-Help them to understand what they have done wrong and what they
need to do to make it right.

- - - - -

In my own child care setting, I use time-outs only for outright
disobedience or rebellion (and not always even then,) and have a
statement in the handbook "Outright disobedience/rebellion is
seldom seen and therefore time-outs are seldom seen." There is a
page about "How to Handle a Time-Out" with some different options
about what the adult might say.

There is also a page describing what disobedient/rebellious
behavior is (which might or might not result in a time out -
depending on the situation, because we are not handling "cookie-
cutter" children,)and what is NOT disobedience/rebellion.

Too often teachers are disciplining children with time outs, etc,
because of the teachers own lack of planning, understanding about
the child's abilities, or impatience on the teachers part.

I also have a page with different scenarios and options a teacher
might use in conflict resolution, in a way that will help the
children to learn not to just depend on the adult to solve the
problem, but to become independent thinkers and able to resolve
conflict on their own.

Another statement in the book: "We are accessing each situation to
see what will best enable each individual child to grow in moral
character, independence, and responsibility."

Copnflict resolution is something we will often be experiencing in
a day and this is a process of growth for the children. To me it
is not a "bad" thing or a need for discipline situation. Children
have to learn how to do this and it is one of the most important
jobs we as teachers have - to help them to know how to live
successfully in the world with other people and with tough
situations. Those are all wonderful teaching opportunities - not
times for discipline or time outs. This is what I'm trying to get
across to teachers in the handbook.

Unfortunately there are many teachers that aren't experiencing joy
in their jobs, nor are they helping children become independent
thinkers, just because the teacher is looking at each "set back" as
a time to say "go to time-out" instead of a teaching and learning
time for the child and the teacher both. (We teachers still have a
lot to learn about teaching. :) )

I hope some of this long note makes sense.

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