Positive Discipline: A Teacher's A-Z Guide, Revised 2nd Edition: Hundreds of Solutions for Every Possible Classroom Behavior Problem (Paperback)

by Ed.D. Jane Nelsen (Author), Roslyn Duffy (Author), Linda Escobar (Author), Jane Nelsen (Author), Kate Ortolano (Author), Debbie Owen-Sohocki (Author) "People do better when they fell better..." (more)
Key Phrases: Class Meeting Solution, Mistaken Goal Chart, Hat Messages (more...)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 2 Revised edition (July 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076152245X
• ISBN-13: 978-0761522454
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #139,882 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ever Hear The Phrase "All Talk, No Action" ?, June 17, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Positive Discipline: A Teacher's A-Z Guide: Turn Common Behavioral Problems into Opportunities for Learning (Paperback)

With four pages and a back cover filled with praises for this book, it HAD to be THE one that was going to help solve all those classroom battles - Right? Wrong. It's more likely that, between them, the four authors have conjured enough contacts in their careers to fill those pages of testimony even if they had written a Spam cookbook.</p>

What all of the glowing reports prefacing the title page don't tell you is that this book concerns itself not with positive ACTION but with positive THINKING. And, on that level, it does a good job. For that reason, I rated it a "3" rather than a "1." The authors are tremendous at looking beyond the behavior to the feelings of the child.</p>

Each entry (alphabetized by behavior type) includes a description of the behavior, suggestions for dealing with it, ideas to plan ahead, and an "inspirational story." I don't know who field-tested the "suggestions", but I found myself wondering what color the sky is in their world. For example, the suggestions for dealing with "Note Writing" include advice to a) write a note yourself and whisper for a student to pass it to the offending pupil so that everyone gets a big object lesson in how disruptive note writing can be, OR b) refuse to teach until the note writing stops. The "inspirational story" in this case depicts a woman who sat down to read a novel when her students began passing notes in class. The little darlings naturally noticed the disadvantage of having the class to themselves and immediately put away the notes and sat, eyes front, awaiting more instruction. RIGHT! And if a teacher uses the first suggestion, the students catch her good humored lesson and stop because OBVIOUSLY note writing is disruptive, right? SURE. The kids in MY world would more than likely assume that the teacher is not serious about her rule and thinks the issue is funny or unimportant.</p>

The suggestions in this book depend on what these authors are calling "respect" for students' feelings. But respect on its own does not make a discipline plan. It is only a start. And so, that is where this book will leave you...at the beginning - the theoretical basis of your discipline plan - rather than with any concrete ideas.</p>

Read this one for its lessons on understanding and empathy. If you want real suggestions for improving discipline in your classroom, read Dr. Robert MacKenzie's "Setting Limits In the Classroom." Amazon's got it.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a win-win discipline book, October 30, 1999

By	Jim Johnston (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Positive Discipline: A Teacher's A-Z Guide: Turn Common Behavioral Problems into Opportunities for Learning (Paperback)

This is a win-win book on discipline. It's applicable to all grades. It asks us to look beyond the superficial quick-fix that's so pervasive with control techniques and reward systems. It gets us to start asking the deeper question: what is behind the behavior being displayed. It does not suggest we throw away setting limits, the authors instead point to a more healthy and compassionate way of dealing with discipline.

5.0 out of 5 stars It is the sum of my 30-year-teaching Life, September 6, 2007

By	Ifakat Karsli "Ifakat Karsli" (Istanbul-Turkey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When you read a book which summarizes your 30-year experience in details you feel proud of yourself and the material you choose.

I recommend "Positive Discipline" and "A Teacher's A-Z Guide, Revised 2nd Edition: Hundreds of Solutions for Every Possible Classroom Behavior Problem" to everybody who teaches.

I teach "Classroom Management" to prospective teachers. I do believe that these books would be the "Bible" of them all.