WHO IS ALFIE KOHN?

1. BEYOND DISCIPLINE: FROM COMPLIANCE TO COMMUNITYBY: ALFIE KOHNPRESENTED BY: DARNITA NASHAND CJ STARNES

2. WHO IS ALFIE KOHN? • An American author, lecturer, and former teacher. • He explores, writes, and speaks out on a number of topics that deal with education, parenting, and human behavior. • Has written about a dozen (12) books • Considered a leading figure in progressive education. • A critic on several of the traditional aspects of • Parenting • Managing • American Society

3. …CONTINUED • A controversial figure, particularly among the behaviorists, the conservatives, and everyone else who defends the specific practices he calls into question. Specific Practices in Question • Competition • Incentive Programs • Conventional Discipline • Standardized Testing • Grades • Homework • Traditional Schooling

4. …CONTINUED • According to Kohn, there is a difference between “working with” and “doing to” classes. • “Doing to” classes include “compliance, punishment and rewards, grading and reliance on marks or test results.” • “Working with” classes include “active participation, high interest, discovery, and love of learning.”

5. OVERVIEWOF KOHN’S MODEL • The focus needs to shift from student achievement to student learning. • Teachers should allow their students to make their own choices; the students cannot learn how to make their own choices if they are always being told what to do. • Tougher standards don’t equal better students. The tougher standards only add unnecessary pressure and they don’t consider the individual characteristics of the students. • Punishments and rewards only offer temporary changes in the students behavior. They never help the students to develop a commitment to positive values. • Too much praise from the teacher to the students can create "praise junkies."

6. TEACHER’S RESPONSIBILITIES DO’S DON’TS DON’T: Be a dictator or an instructor DON’T: Provide a (boring) curriculum that only you as a teacher are excited about DON’T: Create an environment of power and control DON’T: Teach conditionally DON’T: Combine the students and their behavior as one DON’T: Give out rewards to the students when they perform or behave nicely Don’t: Punish the students when they misbehave DON’T: Say congratulatory remarks to the students. • DO: Be a facilitator • DO: Provide an engaging and fun curriculum that the students will enjoy • DO: Give the students ownership when it comes to decision making, roles, and responsibilities • DO: Teach unconditionally • DO: Look at the students separate from their behavior • DO: Put an end to all rewards, punishments, and congratulatory remarks, such as "good job“ and “excellent • DO: Create an unconditional and caring community (class meetings) • DO: Design the classroom as a comfortable and safe place

7. STUDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES THE STUDENTS SHOULD… THE STUDENTS ARE… responsible for their own behavior and are capable of controlling their own behavior • be able to make their own decisions • have choice and control over learning • have some say about what they are doing • choose which questions they want to explore • learn and apply learning

8. PROS vs. CONS PROS CONS What Is The Standard Model? There is no standard model for us to follow. There are no clear and specific steps to achieve this ideal. What Is Right? Kohn’s Model tells you what is wrong with the standards and the norms, but we are left wondering what is right. Every Student Is NOT The Same!!! According to Kohn’s Model, every student in the classroom will respond positively to his ideas. Empowerment • The students learn how to make their own choices. Encouragement • The students are encouraged to think on a higher level. Optimism • Optimism paints a pretty picture of learning and classroom interaction.

9. KEY VOCABULARY • Community- By community Kohn means… “A place in which students feel cared about and are encouraged to care about each other. They experience a sense of value and being respected; the children matter to one another and to the teacher. They have come to think in a plural: they feel connected to each other; they are part of an ‘us.’ And as a result of this, they feel safe in their classes, not only physically, but emotionally.” --Democracy

10. …CONTINUED • Class Meetings- According to Kohn, class meetings usually involve sharing, deciding, planning, and reflecting. • “(1) Sharing: Students decide whether they want to speak or not. • (2) Deciding: Students decide on matters that affect the class such as procedures and furniture arrangement. • (3) Planning: Planning should be done for fieldtrips, raising money, etc… • (4) Reflecting: A good place to think about progress, what has been learned, what might have worked better, and what changes might help the class. “

11. WORKS CITED • http://www.nais.org/publications/ismagazinearticle.cfm?ItemNumber=144263 • http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/12/opposing-view-4.html • http://www.nais.org/publications/ismagazinearticle.cfm?Itemnumber=150652&sn.ItemNumber=145956 • http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/edweek/staiv.htm • http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/aero.htm • http://www.alfiekohn.org/parenting/gj.htm