Considerations For Coloroso’s Model of Classroom Management

1. Considerations For Coloroso’s Model of Classroom Management Dr. John F. vonEschenbach State University of West Georgia

2. Considerations For Coloroso’s Model • The main theses: • Children need to learn how to think, not what to think; • Children need to be empowered to make decisions for themselves; • Children need to experience the consequences of their choices; and • Children need to have a plan for handling their problems.

3. Considerations For Coloroso’s Model • Teachers and parents can intervene in children’s decisions when they are LIFE and MORALLY THREATENING. • Teachers and parents need to buffer children from suicide, drug abuse, and sexual promiscuity. • Two main philosophical tenets are: • Kids are worth it; and • Don’t treat children in ways that you don’t want to be treated.

4. Considerations For Coloroso’s Model • The three classroom management schools: • Brickwall School-heavy on rules, emphasis on what to think, and dictatorship; • Jellyfish School-open concept, anything goes, and preferential treat of kids; • Backbone School: • Three questions for children’s decision-making: Where am I? Where am I going? How do I need to get there? • Three self-beliefs for children: I like myself, I can think for myself; There is no problem that I cannot solve.

5. Considerations For Coloroso’s Model • Backbone School (continued): • Teach with assertiveness-recognize your own rights, needs, and wants as well as, recognize the children’s rights, needs, and wants. • Recognize the three con games of begging, aggression, and obstinacy. • Teach with enthusiasm and dress professionally. • Once in a while, you can make an exception or bend the rule. • Make the decisions: age appropriate, more comfortable to choose, and more uncomfortable not to choose.