Classroom Management &

Theorist
Kaylyn LeGrand
The classroom management plan and student discipline
plan my teachers used during my K-12 years:
In elementary school, my first through third grade teachers all used the same
“stop-light” system to track student behavior. Everyone started the day one green,
but then as the day progressed students could get lowered to yellow and red. The
goal was to stay on green because if you had a “green day” you received a
gumball. However, “yellow days” earned you nothing and “red days” earned a slip
that went home to your parents about your behaviors. Certain behaviors would
cause a students to straight to red from green, and with those you also were sent
to the principal’s office. Whenever, any student was sent to the principal’s office
from K-8 grade, the principal would phone your parents to let them know.
Continued...
In high school, my teachers did not have a discipline plan; they either dealt with the
issue themselves or just sent you to the principal. Each teacher handled issues
differently themselves too. But while in high school, I would say that my teachers
worked harder to make the classroom environment good and had easier less
frustrating set-ups than in elementary school. There was baskets for assignments,
each classroom had a designated space on the whiteboards for teachers to write
assignments or tasks of the day. The desks were also set up pod style to
encourage group work. Most of my elementary classrooms were rows of desks,
and there were posters covering all the walls and (because I attended a small
school) I sat in that same classroom all day for the entire year with the same
teacher and same schedule all day.
Rudolf Dreikurs
Dreikurs was an Australian psychiatrist
(1897-1972) and educator. He created a model of
Social Discipline which focuses on
consequences and encouragement as
keys effective discipline. Dreikurs also
identified four goals that motivate
children to misbehave, which are
attention getting, power and control,
revenge, and helplessness/inadequacy.
He did not believe in punishment or
praise, instead he thought natural
consequences and the process of
encouragement works best with
students
Alfie Kohn is an American author and speaker
on education, parenting, and behavior. He is a
firm believer in progressive education and
has strong critiques against traditional
methods, like using competition as a
motivator. He has even wrote articles about
saying good job to students and how that and
other extrinsic inducements undermine
children. Instead, Kohn believes educators
should focus on curiosity and intrinsic
rewards. If classrooms run cooperatively and
curiosity is nurtured then students will act
appropriately and will not need rewards or Alfie Kohn
punishment. (1957-Present)
William Glasser William Glasser was an American
(1925-2013) psychiatrist, who developed Choice
Therapy. His ideas focus on personal
choice, personal responsibility, and
personal transformation. His theory
states that people’s behaviors are
inspired by what they need or want at a
particular time. Basically implementing
this theory in the classroom is about
teaching younger students to make
choices (hopefully good ones) and
giving freedom of choice to older
students.
Thomas Gordon was an American clinical
psychologist, and he is widely known for
teaching communication skills and conflict
resolution methods to teachers, parents, and
leader. Gordon rejected traditional model of
reward and punishment because they are
based on assertion of power and do not foster
intrinsic motivation. Instead, he focuses on
how students conflicts can be solved in a way
that will improve their relationships with
teachers and peers. Open and honest
communication and listening with acceptance
and understanding. This way the solutions are
agreeable to all parties involved in the conflict, Thomas Gordon
and relationship will not be broken or ruined. (1918-2002)
Haim Ginott
Haim Ginott was an educator, child
(1922-1973) psychologist, and psychotherapist. He
has a book, Between Parent and Child,
is still very popular today, along with
techniques used for conversing with
children. He strongly believed in
listening to students with respect and
acceptance. He wanted teachers to be
facilitators of conversation, with the
use of “I” statements. Ginott has
strong feelings against sarcasm and
other forms of put downs though.
Burrhus Frederic Skinner believed that the
goal was to make education enjoyable and
effective for all students. He did not believe
in the use of punishments in the classroom,
btut instant reinforcement with rewards to
influence behaviors. He most known for his
idea called Operant Conditioning, which in
an example would be offering a sticker to
students who stay in their seats to reinforce
the good behavior. He also created
something called the reinforcement
schedule; these are either continuous
reinforcement (happens every time the
action does) and Partial reinforcement B.F Skinner
(reinforcements used in ratios).
(1904-1990)
Jacob Kounin Jacob Kounin was an educational
theorist who believed teachers had the
(1912-1995) ability to affect student behaviors
through instructional management. He
has phenomenon called the Ripple Effect,
which is correcting one student actually
spreads and engages other students
doing inappropriate behaviors. Kounin
also believed that Lesson Movement was
an important part in keep the classroom
managed. Lesson Movement is done by
having withitness, overlapping,
momentum, smoothness, and group
focus.
Dr. Fred Jones, has been doing work over
the years and publishing books on positive
discipline in the classroom. Positive
discipline in the classroom would be like
encouraging the students with a fun activity,
so offering an extra recess if they work
quietly for thirty minutes. He created
something called Prefered Activity Time
(PAT), which helps both students and
teachers by giving them the incentive to
work through the activity and then have fun.
Dr. Jones also believes in positive
reinforcement, which can be point systems,
positive notes sent home, and any other
positive thing really. Fred Jones
 Lee Canter Lee Canter promotes a classroom
(1947-Present) management called Assertive
Discipline, which involves the
teacher/educator having an extremely
high level of control in the classroom.
In fact, it is also known as the the
“take-control” approach to teaching.
The classroom is supposed to be
controlled firmly, but also still
positively. Canter has wrote over 40
books on topics such as No-Nonsense
Nurturing and Real Time Teaching.
Harry and Rosemary Wong have worked
together over the years publishing
educational books for teacher to use to find
classroom management styles that work for
them. They believe in things like
organization, having routines/procedures,
and using a three step teaching approach to
teach students the procedures. The three
steps are explain, rehearse, and reinforce, all
of which are self explanatory. They also
believe that many teachers struggle with
classroom management because they focus
on the disciplining of students to control
them. This is why the emphasis procedures
and organization, so you can hopefully not
Harry & Rosemary
get to a point of disciplining.
Wong
Edward Ford Edward E. Ford is the creator of the
Responsible Thinking Process (RTP).
If it is properly used is can teach
teachers how to teach students to
have a sense of responsibility for
their lives and other around them. It
creates a mutual respect by
educating students to think about
what they are doing and the rules of
where they are. In other words, it can
make students feel personally
accountable for their actions and
teaches students to show respect.
Applied Behavior Analysis, also known as the ABA, is a scientific
way of understanding different behaviors. It can be used to improve
or change any behavior by changing the environment. It is also a
helpful tool for motivation. The types of behaviors it focuses on are
social skills, communicating, reading, and other academics. This
type of therapy is often used in special education classes, and is
known for improving life experiences. Over the past couple of
decades it has been doing its work, and evidence to prove it helps
diminish harmful behaviors in autistic children.

Applied Behavior
Analysis
John Dewey
(1859-1952) John Dewey was a philosopher,
social reformer, and educator, who
changed the fundamental
approaches to teaching and learning.
He argued that curriculum must be
able to relate back the students and
the schools should be progressive.
Dewey also believed that students
should learn from doing and from the
development of practical life skills.
Which Theories did my teachers use?
My high school teachers seem to match up a lot with Thomas Gordon and Haim
Ginott. My teachers were very open with us students, and we always were able to
communicate openly. Because we had open communication, I feel we all
respected each other more, and that helped us as a class also behave more in the
classroom.

Otherwise, a lot of my elementary and middle school teachers used a lot of

extrinsic reward type things to encourage us and try to make us behave. Which,
worked for some, but not for all. Also, some reminded me of Lee Canter and his
Assertive Control methods.
One Theory I Would Use:
Because I plan to work with high school aged kids, I believe I will
also try to implement some of Thomas Gordon’s theories into my
classroom. Having open and honest conversations with my
students will hopefully show them that I am not only there for them,
but that I am listening and I understand what they need from me as
well. This way they know I can help out and that I am also there to
help them and educate them. I believe if a student knows a teacher
is really trying to help than the students will try as well.
Second Theory I Would Use:
I also like Harry and Rosemary Wong’s theories. Within the first
week, if not just the first day, I plan to make sure all my classes
know my classroom procedures and rules. This way they have no
excuses to not use them or know them. This will also help with
organization which is another key factor in classroom
management for the Wong’s theory. By emphasizing my classroom
rules and procedures right from the beginning, I will hopefully be
minimizing classroom misbehaviors in advance as well.
Third Theory I Would Use:
While working with younger kids, I do believe the teacher needs to have a
strong control over the classroom though. This would relate to Lee Canter’s
idea on Assertive Control. Since younger children are being taught basics
they will need to know for the rest of their lives, it is important for the
teacher to teach the concepts whether through lecture or strategies. This
way the teacher knows they taught the information and can help the student
through guided practice and other assignments. Canter still believes
teachers need to be positive though, so that is why I would relate more
towards his theories working with younger students.
Works Cited
21803, et al. “Understanding Three Key Classroom Management Theories.” The Edvocate, 11 Dec. 2016,
www.theedadvocate.org/understanding-three-key-classroom-management-theories/.