McKenzie Turley

EDU 240

Classroom Management Philosophy

Three different theories I have chosen for my classroom management philosophy are

Skinner’s, Glasser’s, and Kohn’s. I have chosen these three theories because I think they have

made a huge impact on the way schools are run today, and I am a big fan of understanding and

implementing the basics.

Skinner’s Theory

Skinner’s theory is mainly about how a person's voluntary actions are influenced by what

happens immediately after they perform an act. His research showed that when a person

performs an action and is reinforced immediately afterward, they become more likely to repeat

that act. I like this theory because I like the idea that good acts get rewarded, and this leads to

more good being done. However, this theory is not complete as it does not show what a teacher

should do when behavior is negative, and that is why Skinner’s theory is best used with other

methods as well.

Elements of Skinner's Theory

I plan to incorporate the following elements of Skinner’s theory in my classroom:

● Reinforcing stimuli

● Successive approximation

● Parts of behavior modification

 “Reinforcing stimuli” is another way of saying rewards. When we typically think of

rewards, we think of candy or treats, but in the classroom setting, it is wiser to use approval, free

time, and encouraging words and actions from the teacher. Successive approximation is shaping

behavior by reinforcing it as it comes closer and closer to the main goal. Behavior modification

is when a teacher rewards students who are behaving well and ignores those who are not. I

believe that rewarding good behavior is important, but ignoring negative behavior does not seem

like an effective way to solve the problem. I like Skinner’s ideas on rewarding students and

“training” them to have good behavior, but I dislike his take on how to deal with negative

behavior.

Glasser’s Theory

Glasser’s theory revolves around the idea of “choice theory.” This is the theory that

almost all behavior is chosen, and we are driven by genetics to satisfy our needs. So, teachers

should aim to befriend their students and show how they are willing to help and point them in the

right direction, like a “lead manager,” as Glasser calls them. If a teacher takes an approach of

demanding what they expect from students and berates them for not meeting those expectations,

like a “boss manager” then students will quickly become uninterested in learning. Glasser has the

idea that students who are led to meet the teacher’s expectations do significantly better than

students who are bossed around.

Elements of Glasser’s Theory

Elements of Glasser’s theory that I plan to incorporate into my classroom are:

● Choice theory

● “Lead” management

● Positive influence instead of forceful tactics

 I want to incorporate these tactics into my classroom because I agree with Glasser’s ideas

on how to influence positive behavior in a classroom. I do not want to be the type of teacher that

makes students hate school, I want to be able to encourage them to do their best and help them

enjoy being at school every day. Glasser’s choice theory supports my personal belief that leading

is better than force. Lead management is the best way to put this theory into action. Positively

leading my students would suit me best as well as be the most beneficial way for me to teach my

students.

Kohn’s Theory

Kohn created his theory because he was trying to prevent students from simply going

through the motions of school. Too many students just do the assignments, read the books, and

answer the questions they are asked without having any interest in what they're learning at all.

Kohn believes we should feed into a student's curiosity, and teach them in a way that does not

bore them into becoming indifferent towards their education. Kohn suggests straying away from

extrinsically motivating students to do well. Assuming that all students thrive off of competing

with one another is incorrect, it would be more effective to have students work with each other

and with their teachers to learn. Kohn also believes that students should not be rewarded just for

answering questions, but for actively showing their curiosity towards different subjects.

Elements of Kohn’s Theory

The following elements of Kohn’s theory are the ones that I plan to use in my classroom:

● Getting rid of traditional instruction

● Creating learning communities

● Connecting with students

 These elements from Kohn’s theory are the ones that I agree with the most. I love the

idea of throwing out the traditional ways of teaching and being able to help students on a more

individual level. Creating learning communities in school could not only help students learn but

it could provide valuable life experience. Allowing students to work together with teachers and

staff instead of making them compete against each other is such a valuable skill that I think

should be in every school already.

In conclusion, I chose these three theories because they were important in making

teaching what it is today in some aspects, but they also show that there could be a lot of

improvement in our education system. These three theories also all go hand in hand together,

especially the elements I have chosen from each one.

 References

Charles, C.M. Cole, K.M. (2018). Building Classroom Management: Methods and Management.

Pearson.