Theorists
There are many theories out there to help people better understand the most effective ways of teaching as well as the many ways to best help a student whether it be behaviorally, academically, or personally. These are the two theorists I chose to focus on and feel that I can incorporate their philosophies in my classroom. You can also find further information on how I may incorporate their theories in my classroom on the home page under the "My Own Classroom Philosophy" link.
Alfie Kohn
Alfie Kohn believed in creating a classroom composed of a community of learners that care for each others individual needs. His idea is to center the classroom around intrinsic motivation, collaboration, deeper understanding, active learning, and social justice. Alfie is most known for his premise of, "no homework + no grades = better learning". He sees that homework doesn't help students to better learn the material, but does put them in a poor psychological state, which causes more anger, stress, and frustration over the topics. His idea is that grades push students away from wanting to learn more about the material and that students look for the easiest tasks which sets limits on the quality of thinking that can take place. Kohns solution to giving grades is to give qualitative feedback instead of quantitative feedback, give the students an opinion in how everything is graded, making accommodations to the unique learning styles that students have, and to help students build self-managing skills.
If you would like to learn more about Alfie Kohn take a look at his personal website below
Ronald Morrish
Ronald Morrish is best known for his concept of "Real Discipline", which focuses on students behaving properly. Morrish notes that discipline is a process not an event that occurs and that teachers must know how to discipline and set behavioral standards. This is a process to teach students to comply with the directions given by the teachers. As a teacher we must work from more structure to less structure. Make clear what is expected of them from the start before slowly letting the students early their own freedom to make their own independent choices. Morrish believes that rewards are not necessary when students are doing what was asked of them.
The three phases to his approach are as followed:
Step 1 Training Compliance: This is where the teacher teaches the students that he/she is the authority figure and teaches the students how to comply to the teachers instructions immediately. This is done using direct instruction and close supervision. When a mistake is made the student is not punished but instructed to go back and fix their mistake. This is done through consistency and following daily routines.
Step 2 Teaching Students How to Behave: This step focuses on teaching the students the skills, attitudes and knowledge needed for cooperation, proper behavior, and increased responsibility.
Step 3 Managing Student Choice: This is helps students move towards more independence by offering more and more choices as continue to show the capability to make the right one. The teacher has the final say and can strip students of their right to make choices if they are continually making the wrong one.
These are Morrish's 11 Steps for Proactive Disciplinary System:
-Deciding how students should behave
-Designing the supporting structure
-Establishing a threshold for behavior at school
-Running a two week "training camp"
-Teaching students how to behave appropriately
-Setting the stage for quality instruction
-Providing active assertive supervision
-Enforcing rules and expectations (rewarding good behavior, noticing good behavior)
-Focusing on preventions
-Setting high standards
-Treating parents as partners
"Real discipline isnt some new theory. It simply refers to all the techniques that great parents and teachers use to teach children to be respectful, responsible, and cooperative. The problem is that todays popular discipline uses different techniques. As a result, many children today are becoming manipulative and defiant."
Lastly, I feel that Robert Morrish's Guidelines for Strengthening Student Relationships is very key to incorporate into each classroom. The guidelines are:
1) Consistently Focus on the Positive
2) Wipe the slate clean after students make behavioral mistakes
3) Not back away from discipline, but instead face it head on right away
4) Lead the way, instilling the amount of care had for the student
5) Never humiliate students when correcting their misbehaviors
6) Refuse to accept mediocrity and holding students accountable to high standards
If you would like to know more about Robert Morrish, take a look at his website below!
The three phases to his approach are as followed:
Step 1 Training Compliance: This is where the teacher teaches the students that he/she is the authority figure and teaches the students how to comply to the teachers instructions immediately. This is done using direct instruction and close supervision. When a mistake is made the student is not punished but instructed to go back and fix their mistake. This is done through consistency and following daily routines.
Step 2 Teaching Students How to Behave: This step focuses on teaching the students the skills, attitudes and knowledge needed for cooperation, proper behavior, and increased responsibility.
Step 3 Managing Student Choice: This is helps students move towards more independence by offering more and more choices as continue to show the capability to make the right one. The teacher has the final say and can strip students of their right to make choices if they are continually making the wrong one.
These are Morrish's 11 Steps for Proactive Disciplinary System:
-Deciding how students should behave
-Designing the supporting structure
-Establishing a threshold for behavior at school
-Running a two week "training camp"
-Teaching students how to behave appropriately
-Setting the stage for quality instruction
-Providing active assertive supervision
-Enforcing rules and expectations (rewarding good behavior, noticing good behavior)
-Focusing on preventions
-Setting high standards
-Treating parents as partners
"Real discipline isnt some new theory. It simply refers to all the techniques that great parents and teachers use to teach children to be respectful, responsible, and cooperative. The problem is that todays popular discipline uses different techniques. As a result, many children today are becoming manipulative and defiant."
Lastly, I feel that Robert Morrish's Guidelines for Strengthening Student Relationships is very key to incorporate into each classroom. The guidelines are:
1) Consistently Focus on the Positive
2) Wipe the slate clean after students make behavioral mistakes
3) Not back away from discipline, but instead face it head on right away
4) Lead the way, instilling the amount of care had for the student
5) Never humiliate students when correcting their misbehaviors
6) Refuse to accept mediocrity and holding students accountable to high standards
If you would like to know more about Robert Morrish, take a look at his website below!