Theorists
Alfie Kohn
Alfie Kohn is an American author and lecturer who has explored a number of topics in education, parenting, and human behavior. Kohn's challenges to widely accepted theories and practices have made him a controversial figure.
Alfie Kohn has developed strong theories about how the classroom should be run. His theories include:
1. Students should not receive grades.
2. Students should not receive homework.
3. Students learn according to their interests (no set curriculum).
4. Community is a huge aspect. The treatment of the students is crucial to create a learning
environment.
The biggest thing that Kohn emphasizes about his theories is the idea of community. He believes that teachers should show respect for their students. Teachers should help students connect with each other. A way in which a teacher can be a facilitator to make teacher-student and student-student relationships is through holding "classroom meetings". Classroom meetings can help to build community and get to know each person and allow them to contribute their ideas. Any way in which a teacher and school and provide activities to bring students together can help to build community within the student body and classroom environment. It is important to remember the whole school not just the individual student or class. With this being said, it is important for teachers to take time to reflect on academic instruction and make sure that they are helping the student reach success.
Kohn has great advice and application for teachers. These include:
1. Teachers should find an equilibrium. Utilize the methods while keeping true to your own identity and philosophy.
2. The classroom should focus on the importance of building a community within your classroom.
3. Teachers should give their students guided choices. They still feel the empowerment of picking what they do yet it follows your
plans and the standards.
Alfie Kohn has developed strong theories about how the classroom should be run. His theories include:
1. Students should not receive grades.
2. Students should not receive homework.
3. Students learn according to their interests (no set curriculum).
4. Community is a huge aspect. The treatment of the students is crucial to create a learning
environment.
The biggest thing that Kohn emphasizes about his theories is the idea of community. He believes that teachers should show respect for their students. Teachers should help students connect with each other. A way in which a teacher can be a facilitator to make teacher-student and student-student relationships is through holding "classroom meetings". Classroom meetings can help to build community and get to know each person and allow them to contribute their ideas. Any way in which a teacher and school and provide activities to bring students together can help to build community within the student body and classroom environment. It is important to remember the whole school not just the individual student or class. With this being said, it is important for teachers to take time to reflect on academic instruction and make sure that they are helping the student reach success.
Kohn has great advice and application for teachers. These include:
1. Teachers should find an equilibrium. Utilize the methods while keeping true to your own identity and philosophy.
2. The classroom should focus on the importance of building a community within your classroom.
3. Teachers should give their students guided choices. They still feel the empowerment of picking what they do yet it follows your
plans and the standards.
“We want children to continue reading and thinking after school has ended, yet we focus their attention on grades, which have been shown to reduce interest in learning. We want them to be critical thinkers, yet we feed thempredigested facts and discrete skills – partly because of various constituencies to pump up standardized test scores” (Kohn 2001, p. 61).
Marvin Marshall
"Marvin Marshall developed a theory discipline without stress. Marshall believed that the key to effective classroom management is teaching and practicing procedures not enforcing rules. He also stressed that discipline is the students responsibility whereas classroom management is the teacher's responsibility. He believed that the only way to change an emotion is to change the thought.
Marvin Marshall developed a three step teaching model of principals to practice. These include:
Positivity, Choice, and Reflection.
Positivity
- Marvin Marshall believes that communication should be done with positive terms. He believes
this because it can help change negatives into positives.
Choice
- Marvin also believed in giving choice to students. Teaching the idea of choice to
students increases choice-response to thinking. Also, people always have choice for what
their response will be so he stressed including this in his model.
Reflection
- The idea that Marvin Marshall had in mind with reflection was to ask refelctive questions
to prompt students and to effect change.
All in all, Marvin Marshall thought that talking positively with students and allowing them to have a choice and to be able to reflect on their choices could be good for their learning.
Marvin Marshall developed a three step teaching model of principals to practice. These include:
Positivity, Choice, and Reflection.
Positivity
- Marvin Marshall believes that communication should be done with positive terms. He believes
this because it can help change negatives into positives.
Choice
- Marvin also believed in giving choice to students. Teaching the idea of choice to
students increases choice-response to thinking. Also, people always have choice for what
their response will be so he stressed including this in his model.
Reflection
- The idea that Marvin Marshall had in mind with reflection was to ask refelctive questions
to prompt students and to effect change.
All in all, Marvin Marshall thought that talking positively with students and allowing them to have a choice and to be able to reflect on their choices could be good for their learning.
Other Resources
This website is Alfie Kohn's website. It includes many useful resources, articles, and information for the reader. http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.php
This website is Marvin Marshall's website/blog. It includes many useful resources and information for parents, teachers, and readers.
http://www.marvinmarshall.com/blog/
If you are interested in learning about another important theorist, check out this website and learn about Fred Jones.
http://www.fredjones.com/Tools-for-Teaching/Tools-for-Teaching-main.html
This website is Marvin Marshall's website/blog. It includes many useful resources and information for parents, teachers, and readers.
http://www.marvinmarshall.com/blog/
If you are interested in learning about another important theorist, check out this website and learn about Fred Jones.
http://www.fredjones.com/Tools-for-Teaching/Tools-for-Teaching-main.html