EDPP302 Week 3

WEEK 3 - Additional materials

As an teacher beginning at a school, or working casual or on professional experience it is difficult to come into a class and establish a positive learning environment with relevant, interesting lesson and a good realtionship between yourself and the students. Setting the tone of the classroom is important and building respect and rapport with students requires a clear direction and confidence that has had little chance to be established.

Therefore, this week we will work through some basic steps to establishing this environment using as a framework Canter and Canter's Assertive Discipline model.

The additional materials below along with the weekly Powerpoint presentation provide a further reference for teachers seeking to make a positive first impression with their classes:

Powerpoint presentation for the Week 3 lecture looking at limit setting/controlling models - specifically the Assertive Discipline approach from Canter & Canter.

This article is a response from Lee Canter addressing some of the areas of criticism made against Assertive Discipline.

Haim Ginott offers some simple and clear insights into how effective communication using iMessages and limit setting can assist the management of children and avoid conflict . . . .

Have a look at this excerpt from a classroom at Summer Heights High School. Observe the teachers approach to Jonah and think about how his attitude and behaviour could be more effectively managed using a limit setting approach.

If you need a easy to read but detailed overview for several models of behaviour management this website from Thomas Allen will do the trick. The models are explained in point form with the key strategies stated and examples of practical positive and negative consequences given.

When building your own management plan you can choose from over 100 examples of actions to match your particular situation and approach.

Fred Jones lists some back up systems teachers that can be used when more positive reminders and supports are unsuccessful in managing student behaviour. Like most of the approaches discussed in the course they start low key and gradually increasing in level as the behaviours become more disruptive.

A handout from the Crisis Prevention Institute giving an outline of limit setting.

Outline of the steps in reflective or empathic listening. The pdf
includes an audio file giving an explanation.

For a link to the lecture information and commentary try . . . here

For more on empathy . . . .

A short video working through a demonstration of the Assertive Discipline approach to classroom management.