I had the privilege of co-presenting at the annual CASS Start Right conference for school leaders last week. It was an honor to be in a room full of leaders who were willing to give up a few days of their precious summer to learn and grow their leadership. In one of the parts of our presentation, my mentor and co-presenter, Dr. Scott Morrison told stories about the power of using logical consequences rather than natural consequences. It was a hit and we knew that this was something that administrators needed in their toolbox.
I want to unpack this in this blog post so you can see just how effective logical consequences are over natural consequences. Let’s dive into a game-changing approach to school discipline that can transform your school’s environment and foster genuine learning and growth. I am talking about the magic of implementing logical consequences.
Why Logical Consequences?
Picture this: Your child sticks a fork into a plug. Would you just let them learn the hard way? Of course not! You’d intervene to ensure their safety and teach them a lesson to prevent future mistakes. So why do we, as principals or teachers, sometimes think that letting students face harsh, unrelated consequences will teach them better?
Logical Consequences are:
- Connected directly to the misbehavior.
- Designed to be instructional and help students learn from their actions.
- In other words…is it connected to the offence and is it good for kids?
Natural Consequences are:
- What happens naturally without any intervention.
- Not always safe or instructional.
John Hattie’s research shows that feedback and instructional support have an effect size of 0.75 – significantly higher than punitive measures. This means students learn and grow more when they understand the consequences and learn from them. Let’s talk about what he means by effect size. According to John Hattie’s groundbreaking research, feedback and instructional support pack a serious punch with an effect size of 0.75. Anything over .4 is considered a high yield practice. What does that mean? Well, it’s HUGE! It means….it works.
Imagine this: Instead of punishing students, you provide them with constructive feedback and teach them why their actions matter. This approach not only helps them understand the consequences but also fosters genuine growth and learning. When students grasp the ‘why’ behind their actions, they’re far more likely to improve and succeed. So, ditch the punitive measures and embrace feedback and instructional support to create a thriving learning environment!
Let’s dive into a real-life example. One of our dedicated teachers had a student who cheated on a test. Naturally, the teacher was upset and wanted to give the student a zero. She felt unsupported when the principal suggested an alternative. The principal saw an opportunity for a more meaningful consequence after talking with the superintendent.
Instead of giving a zero, the principal decided to support both the teacher and the student. He worked one-on-one with the student, helping them study for a retest. This lifted the extra burden off the teacher, who felt relieved and supported. The student learned proper study techniques and genuinely understood the material this time around. The student passed the retest fairly, and meaningful learning occurred. The teacher felt supported because the principal took action to ensure the student learned, and relationships were built all around.
Why This Works: If we just give a zero, students learn nothing and feel defeated. By investing time in them, we show them they are worth the effort, fostering a supportive and effective learning environment.
Now, I know what you’re thinking… “If we use logical consequences, doesn’t that mean the kid gets away with it?” But here’s the truth: Logical consequences don’t let kids off the hook; they hold them accountable in a way that teaches valuable lessons and promotes real change. It actually makes them work harder. By connecting the consequence to the behavior, students learn responsibility and understand the real impact of their actions. It’s about guiding them to make better choices, not just punishing them for mistakes. No child is very happy with spending even more time relearning. This takes time out of their precious social schedule for a very important reason…making sure they succeed through doing the work and spending the time reflecting on their decision. It also shows you are not giving up on them and believe in them. That is powerful.
Navigating Conflict with Care
When conflict arises, here’s a simple yet powerful approach to handle it effectively:
- Seek to understand and empathize: Listen to their side of the story and show empathy.
- Tell them what you know: Clearly communicate your perspective and the facts.
- Tell them what you will do going forward: Outline your next steps to address the issue.
Sometimes, you might need more time to think about your next steps. It’s perfectly okay to book another meeting with the child, teacher, or parent to reflect and then determine the best approach. This ensures you handle the situation thoughtfully and constructively. Once you have done all of these things to find out the whole story, it is then time to determine the logical consequence. Here is a step by step guide to help you:
Implementing Logical Consequences: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Identify the Misbehavior and Its Impact
First, understand what the student did and how it affects others. This creates a foundation for a meaningful consequence.
Example: If a student cheats on a test, identify the impact – they missed an opportunity to learn, and it’s unfair to others who worked hard.
Step 2: Create a Connected and Instructional Consequence
The consequence should directly relate to the misbehavior and teach the student something valuable.
Step 3: Address Concerns About Repeat Offenses
You might wonder, “Won’t students just cheat all the time if they get a retest?” Here’s the deal: Logical consequences teach accountability and skills that punitive measures don’t. Making them retest and showing them how to study is actually more work for them, rather than just giving them a zero and moving forward without them having to put the time and effort in. Most kids don’t want to study more….so they likely don’t want to have to repeat another retest…
Answer: When students understand the effort they need to put in to correct their mistakes, they are less likely to repeat them. It’s about learning, not just punishing.
Step 4: Involve All Stakeholders
Ensure that parents, teachers, and students understand and support the approach.
Example: In the cheating scenario, the principal supported the teacher by handling the extra work, supported the student by teaching them, and supported the parents by involving them in the process. Relationships were strengthened, and everyone felt valued.
Step 5: Reflect and Adjust
Regularly reflect on what’s working and what isn’t. Be open to adjusting your approach as needed.
Example: Another teacher implemented logical consequences by allowing students who disrupted class to spend time after school helping set up for the next day. This consequence was connected to their behavior and taught them responsibility. Over time, disruptions decreased, and students felt more connected to the classroom community.
Here’s the truth: Logical consequences and learning from mistakes take time, but they’re worth it. As principals and leaders, it’s our responsibility to ensure that our students are not just disciplined but are also learning and growing from their experiences. It’s easy to blame the kid and feel there’s nothing more we can do, but remember – we’re here to guide, support, and inspire, especially when they make mistakes.
Here is the honest truth about logical consequences…it often costs the disciplinarian more. But we are in the business of teaching…so we must also use teaching as a tool for discipline. I challenge you to commit to making our schools places where mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn, where consequences are fair and instructional, and where every student feels supported in their journey to success. Together, we can transform our disciplinary practices and create an environment where everyone thrives.
Your Next Steps
- Reflect on your current disciplinary practices. Where can you implement logical consequences?
- Engage your teachers and parents in conversations about these changes.
- Commit to continuous improvement and support for your students.
This is hard work, I know…but if you commit to it and present a clear purpose to others, you will be amazed at how it will decrease your discipline and build relationships.
So there you have it, another amazing way to build trust through visibility, support, and relationships. I hope you are implementing what you learn!
Morrison, S. (2024, July 2). CASS Start Right presentation.
Hattie, J. (2023). Visible learning: The sequel: A synthesis of over 2,100 meta-analyses relating to achievement. Routledge.
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