The Wonderful World of Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs

Adrienne Woolley

As a social being, each child wants to BELONG. His

BEHAVIOR indicates the ways and means by which he tries to be significant (Dreikurs, Maintaining

Sanity in the Classroom, p. 12).

The Well Adjusted Child Has Most of These Qualities

Respects rights of others. Is tolerant of others. Is interested in others. Co-operates with others. Encourages others. Is courageous. Has a true sense of own worth. Has a feeling of belonging. Has socially acceptable goals. Puts forth genuine effort. Willing to share rather than thinking “How much can I

get?” “We” rather than “I”

4 Goals of MisbehaviorGoal 1: Attention-Getting – Seeks proof of his approval or status. Will cease when reprimanded or given attention.

Goal 2: Power – Similar to destructive attention getting, but more intense. Wants to be the boss. Reprimand intensifies misbehavior.

Goal 3: Revenge – Does things to hurt others. Makes self hated. Retaliates.

Goal 4: Display of Inadequacy – Assumes real or imagined deficiency to safeguard oneself. Shows hopelessness.

Misbehavior Motivation Song

Sing to the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it”

Verse 1: If attention is your motive you want approval. If attention is your motive you want approval. If attention is your motive then your face will surely show it. If attention is your motive you want approval.

Verse 2: If power is your motive you wanna be boss. If power is your motive you wanna be boss. If power is your motive then your face will surely show it. If power is your motive you wanna be boss.

Verse 3: If revenge is your motive you wanna hurt others. If revenge is your motive you wanna hurt others. If revenge is your motive then your face will surely show it. If revenge is your motive you wanna hurt others.

Verse 4: If inadequacy is your motive you feel hopeless. If inadequacy is your motive you feel hopeless. If inadequacy is your motive then your face will surely show it. If inadequacy is your motive you feel hopeless.

Classroom Management

Cooperation

Encouragement

Consequences

Cooperation not Competition

A cooperative person…

is free to be concerned with others as friends, neighbors, and classmates rather than as competitors

does not waste energy thinking about winning or losing

treats everyone with mutual respect

has the courage to be imperfect

EncouragementTeachers should:

Commend effort.

Separate the deed from the doer.

Build on strengths not weaknesses.

Avoid discouragement.

Work for improvement not perfection.

How is praise different from encouragement?

ConsequencesUsing logical consequences in your classroom:

1. Evaluate the goal of misbehavior.

2. Provide interventions based on the goal.

3. Impose a natural or logical consequence when rules are broken or misbehavior occurs.

4. Build community in the classroom by helping students connect to each other and to you.

What kind of teacher are

you?

Democratic

PermissiveAutocratic

References Dreikurs, R., and & Cassel, P. (1990). Discipline without tears, 2nd edition. New York,

NY: Dutton.

Dreikurs, R., Grunwald, B.B., & Pepper, F.C. (1971). Maintaining sanity in the classroom: Illustrated teaching techniques. New York, NY: Harper & Row, Publishers.

  Hardin, C. J. (2011). Effective classroom management: Models and strategies for

today’s classroom, 3rd edition. Retrieved from http://education.ucsb.edu/webdata/instruction/ed395bf/

Management/LP4_Cognitive_Systems_Mangement/Dreikurs.PDF

New World Encyclopedia. (2008). Rudolf Dreikurs. Retrieved from http://www.newworld

encyclopedia.org/entry/Rudolf_Dreikurs

Waddell, Derrick (2012). Historical Facebook lesson template. Retrieved from Google Drive.

Wikibooks. (2012). Classroom management theorists and theories/Rudolf Dreikurs. Retrieved from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Classroom_Management_Theorists _and_Theories/ Rudolf_Dreikurs