FUN!

Dr. William Glasser states that one of our basic needs is to have fun. This is just as important for teachers as it is for students.

When I was at Jackson Elementary our principal at the time, Ernie Nix, showed us the film FISH Philosophy about Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, Washington. They had learned at this market the importance of fun in the workplace. There is also a book Fish! Catch the Energy written by the owner of the market, John Yokoyama.

Principals can do a lot to make the school a place of fun for the teachers. It starts with the attitude. With the right attitude the principal will think of ways to make a teacher's day and be there to provide undivided, caring attention. This is especially important for those teachers who are irreplaceables.

A Few Other Tips About Discipline

Dr. William Glasser in his book Quality School gives some thoughts about discipline that would be wise to remember:

• It's always what we want at the time--survival, love/belonging, freedom/choice, power, fun-- that causes our behavior. That which we get from the outside--threats or rewards--is only information.
• Kicking students out of class or school does not deal with the basic problem or achieve what needs to happen which is getting them involved in quality learning.
• It's best to deal with disruptive students without notifying parents. We should strive to only contact parents to tell them positive things.
• When there is a problem with a student or students don't waste time trying to find fault or blame. It doesn't really matter.
• When confronted with a disruptive student, don't threaten, get angry, or sulk and take it personally.
• Stay calm when dealing with a disruptive student so as not to focus on what the student said or did no matter how out of order.

These tips are easier said than done but they are all worth incorporating the best we can...and our best will keep getting better.

Lessons from Dr. William Glasser

Dr. William Glasser is an internationally recognized psychiastrist who identified five innate needs we all have: 1) survival, 2) love/belonging, 3) power, 4) freedom/choice, and 5) fun that drive the behavior we choose. He has applied his theories to educational settings. One of his most well known successes where he applied his theories is with delinquent girls at the Ventura School in California. There are now a number of mainstream schools that have made a commitment to apply his theories in order to become a quality school.

The following books Dr. Glasser has authored are great resources that everyone who wants to make a difference for Hispanic learners will want to read:

• Choice Theory in the Classroom
• Schools Without Failure
• The Quality School
• The Quality School Teacher
• Every Student Can Succeed

For more information visit the website: http://wglasser.com/