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Last year, our staff adopted the positive discipline approach to replace ineffective no-tolerance policies. Positive discipline is based on the practice of problem-solving instead of punishment. At its core are weekly class meetings, where students work through problems together. At the beginning of the year, teachers “train” students to present problems and offer solutions. Within this process, both teachers and students explore topics such as mutual respect, encouragement and recognizing mistaken goals. One of the biggest challenges is to shift our focus from punishment to solutions.

One young girl's experience on the school bus mirrors problems going on all over the country.

I just started my sixth year teaching high school English. This year began with the same question as always: “How will I empower the young women in my classroom this year?”

What if students created academic experiences that fit their values?

Let’s use some time this summer to rejuvenate and reflect on our classroom practice!

Girls are more likely to have low self-esteem than boys, and what happens during classroom discussions can play a role, for better or worse.

There are three questions students of history should always ask: What’s the context?What’s the context?What’s the context? Yes, I know, it’s a play on the old real estate joke (location, location, location), but the importance of understanding how a quote or an event sits in terms of what’s happening around it cannot be overstated.

After a candid classroom discussion, this high school teacher marvels at the questions and concerns that educators like herself must confront at school.

An Ohio teacher dares students to envision a new community.