I attended an AMAZING conference this week by the Love and Logic Institute. Great ideas on how to improve discipline and student achievement. One of my favorites suggestions is the "energy drain" where instead of reacting to behavior you point out that it is "draining all of your energy". You then tell the student that you will probably be okay but you will need to let them know how they can replace your energy.
So I am looking for a list of ideas of energy replacements for my students. And of course today I have 6 students who caused quite a stir (hiring bodyguards to harass each other on the playground!) so I am looking for a way for them to make up the half hour I spent sorting out their drama yesterday
I have used cleaning trash from the floor, organizing my class library, and restocking/organizing our supply center as energy replacers. Have you seen loveandlogicforum.com; they have great ideas over there?
Good luck to you! I started using it, and I regressed to drill sergeant mode and am working my way back into L&L mode. I need to remember energy drains!
I read the book on the recommendation from a fellow teacher. I loved the book. But I go into school with good intentions and by 10AM I am back to my drill sergeant mode!! I have 27 kids, my room is crowded, I have kids being pulled all the time for remediation or ESL or for counseling etc. I've got kids with no motivation who do no work despite my best efforts. I'm lucky to make it through the day still on my feet. How do I get back to L&L?
I did great with L&L in handling the big situation, major drama with fighting but it is those little situations that I found myself still barking at the kids about. I am going to work on creating a list of energy replacements and try to get in the habit of students doing this "chores" instead of just losing behavior points (that so does nothing for those kids who are constantly off task) I also ordered the Teaching with Love and Logic book and Quick fixes CDs, I am hoping for some great inspiration there!
I promise to share!
If you call the L&L Institute phone number and ask for "Pam's List" they will email you a whole list of energy replacers.
I love L&L and have been using it for 3 years with my children, 1 year part-way in school, and this year all-out. It works great. I am less stressed, and the kids are more responsible.
I love to have students pick up around the classroom for little annoying things like talking. I also have them create my seating chart with all of my clauses (X can't sit here, Y MUST sit there, etc.) They really struggle and have a greater appreciation for how hard it can be. I also come up with punishment-fits-the-crime ones for those less-often, but more severe offenses.
mnolan: I find that happens to me sometimes too. I am a middle school teacher, so I see different kids all day. That helps some, but sometimes I still get stuck in drill sargeant mode. I do a couple of things to try to combat that. First, I drink lots of water and make sure I eat a filling meal for breakfast and lunch (hunger and thirst always make me cranky). Next, at the beginning of every class (maybe for elem, when you have a transition?), I take a moment to calm myself, pray for myself and my students, and think about what I want to accomplish that day. If I feel I am getting out of control during a class period, I try to take a step back and calm down before the drill sargeant jumps out. Sometimes I'm unsuccessful, and I am always quick to apologize to the students, "Boy, I messed up there. Didn't give you a choice did I? or I didn't let you solve your own problem did I? Sorry about that!"
I would also recommend you visit the Love & Logic unofficial forum (they don't have an official one). It doesn't get a WHOLE lot of traffic, but there are some great people on there who know their L&L stuff and can answer any questions you have.
I appreciate your advice and have taken it to heart. I have begun eating better and never skipping lunch now. I still have to remember to take a few moments to compose myself when I feel the ire raising in me. I still get so frustrated with the apathy a few of my students are showing and they are only in 4th grade!! It is the same ones who don't do the homework, don't pay attentions, don't do the classwork, won't participate in small groups etc. They are disruptive and distracting to the rest of the class.
So, I tried the draining my energy approach. Guess what happened? I had a mother call me the next morning and rant and rave at me for 20 minutes about how dare I tell her child that he was 'draining my energy'. She called the guidance counselor and the principal, too, to tell them and told us all how her son's self worth was at an all time low because of what I said and now he hates school, is afraid of me, and then goes on to say how I have given up on her son and that is not what a teacher is supposed to do. So now what do I do? This is a child who is close to failing 4th grade, does no work in class, no homework, is tuned out all day long and never knows what is going on and basically sits in class and zones out all day. Everytime I have conferenced with the mom, she is very defensive and then winds up crying and saying how hard it all is for her because she has 5 kids, dad is working out of state every 2 weeks and is not around much, and her oldest daughter(14) is in an alternative school and creates havoc in the house with her fighting with everyone. When I conference with Mom my principal and guidance counselor are always in attendance but things have not changed. I thought the Love and Logic way might be the answer for this child and my classroom this year but now I have serious doubts. How do I deal with this child when he seems to just not care??
Maybe you could try "noticing" with the child? I have a kid who is exactly the same way, and his parents won't even conference willingly with me/principal. She actually hung up on the principal!! He had to tell her that her son would not be allowed back in class until she met with us!
I'm trying noticing to get him on my side, but I just started it last week and I skipped several days because I was so overwhelmed with other students that it slipped my mind. You're supposed to notice something about the child every day for two weeks, no judgements just notice. "Hey, I notice you really like Captain Underpants books." "Hey, I notice that you always bring an apple for snack." etc.
I agree with the noticing. That has worked well for me to imrpove my relationship with a student. Once you have done this several times over several weeks, try asking him to do something, "just for me." If you are building a positive relationship with him, he will probably do it.
However, if he's having self-concept issues, you should try the attribution theory, which is where you point out something he did right and ask he how he did it. I made a poster that says "How did I do that? I tried hard. I studied. I am getting smarter." I ask them to pick one of the choices. When they vocalize one of those choices, it bypasses their "affective filter" of their subconscious which keeps out all information that contradicts what they already "know" because it is THEM that is saying it, not us. Over time, he will start to see himself in a positive light, but it can take up to a month for every year they have thought negatively about themselves.
Regarding the "draining my energy," if you plan to have them do something to pay back the energy after school, or during recess, you should "enlist" the parent to help you. A really excellent CD of Fay's is "Quick and Easy Classroom Interventions." He roleplays a call to a parent in this sort of situation that is really helpful.
With this mom, I would talk to her, and try to explain the L&L philosophy succicently. "I am trying to teach my students how to be responsible for their behaviors in my classroom. When they cause a problem, I ask them to solve it. When they are adults, they will know how to solve their own problems without depending on their parents or others. One technique I use for behaviors that are distracting is "energy drain." I have to use some of my energy thinking about, or redirecting their behavior. Since there is often not a logical consequence to these behaviors, I ask them to repay my energy. This helps them see a connection between their actions and how they affect others. I hope you will support me in helping train your son for independence and responsibility."
Hang in there. L&L does not come easy, because it is not always natural, but I truly believe we are helping create responsible, independent adults when we use L&L.
Feel free to pm me, if you'd like to talk more. I also want to recommend again the L&L forum website. We have several counselors and L&L practioners on there.
01-19-2007, 06:50 AM
Simple View
