1. Promoting Self-Discipline in Children
Kostelnik’s Chapter 6
Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen

2. What is “Self-Discipline?”
….the voluntary, internal regulation of behavior
(Marion, 1999)

3. How Does Self-Discipline Evolve?
The Earliest Days (no regulation)
Adherence (external regulation)
Identification (shared regulation)
Internalization (self regulation)

4. What Influences Self-Discipline?
Emotional Development
Empathy, Guilt
Cognitive Development
Reasoning, Centration, Irreversible Thinking, Behavior Association
Language Development
Memory Skills

5. How Does Experience Influence Self-Discipline?
Modeling
Attribution
Instruction
Indirect Instruction
On-the-Spot Coaching
Consequences
Positive Discipline

6. What about the Influence of Adult Discipline Styles?
Uninvolved Teaching Style
Permissive Teaching Style
Authoritarian Teaching Style
Authoritative Teaching Style
High on control, communication, nurturance, & responsibility
Positive Discipline with Dignity

7. What are Basic Concepts of Positive Discipline?
Children are Social Beings.
Behavior is Goal Oriented.
A Child’s Primary Goal is to Belong and to be Significant.
A Misbehaving Child is a Discouraged Child.
Social Interest
Mistakes are Wonderful Opportunities to Learn (Recognize, Reconcile, Resolve)

8. Why Do Children Misbehave?
Attention-Getting
Student: “I belong when I’m noticed or served.”
Teacher: Feels annoyed – reacts by reminding, coaxing student
Student: Stops temporarily; later resumes same behavior
What to Do: Ignore Behavior when possible, given attention in unexpected ways, notice positive behavior

9. Why Do Children Misbehave?
Power Seeking
Student: “I belong when I’m in control or proving no one can make me do anything.”
Teacher: Feels angry, provoked, gives in or fights power with power
Student: Intensifies power struggle or submits defiantly
What to Do: Withdraw from conflict; help students construct power constructively by enlisting their help

10. Why Do Children Misbehave?
Revenge
Student: “I belong only when I hurt others and get even.”
Teacher: Feels hurt; retaliates
Student: Seeks further revenge
What to Do: Avoid punishment, retaliation; rather build trusting relationships

11. Why Do Children Misbehave?
Display of Inadequacy
Student: “I belong only when I convince others that I am unable and helpless.”
Teacher: Feels despair, hopeless, discouraged
Student: Shows no improvement
What to Do: Recognize student’s deep discouragement; Don’t give up, pity, or criticize; Encourage positive effort; get help

12. What are Consequences? Natural Arbitrary Logical Occur automatically
Arranged & Not related to behavior
Arranged & related to behavior
Never – danger, others’ rights, no problem
Least effective
Always- related, respectful, reasonable

13. What are Results of Not Using the Three R’s?
Resentment
“I can’t trust adults.”
Revenge
“They are winning now, but I’ll get even.”
Rebellion
I’ll do just the opposite to prove I can.”
Retreat
“I won’t get caught next time.” or “I am a bad person.”

14. Case Study Activity
Read case study (similar to the type of open-ended questions on PRAXIS II – PLT)
Discuss solutions with cooperative learning group
Write a thorough answer to the problem
Share your answers with class