TSL 3109 Managing the Primary ESL Classroom

Theory of Democratic Teaching by Rudolf Dreikurs

PISMP SEM 5 TESL 2Cheong Zi Hoong 910305-01-5418

4 Key Concepts of Democratic Teaching

Mistaken goals • Seeking attention• Power struggle• Exacting Revenge• Displaying Inadequacy

Democratic Style• Democratic vs Autocratic &

Permissive

Encouragement• Effort vs Achievement

Consequences• Logical consequences vs

Punishment

The Approaches/Strategies of Democratic Teaching

Mistaken goal

• Provide lessons with social interest in mind

• Communicate with one another

• Mutual respect• Look for positive

attributes in students• Examine pupils

behaviour patterns

Democratic style

• Discussions and teacher learns how to accept pupils’ opinion

• Students involve in making decisions in the classroom

Encouragement

• Give positive reinforcement

• Appreciate students effort of learning

• Display students work

• Don’t require perfection

Consequences

• Apply logical consequences

• Give relatable punishments to students

The Approaches/Strategies of Democratic Teaching

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths• Make consequences

understandable • Positive reinforcement• Promotes autonomy • Redirect pupils’ behaviour• Form mutual respect • Focus on causes of

misbehaviour

Weaknesses• Difficult to respond to non

controllable pupils• May have problem in

engaging conversation• Trouble determining the

actual motives

Practicality of the Theory in the ESL classroom

When?• Classroom activity• Giving encouragement• Problem with misbehaviour

How?• Discussion,

grouping• Feedback & Display

pupil’s work• Use logical

consequences

Why?• Sense of belonging• Positive

reinforcement• Make

consequences understandable & redirect behaviour

Bibliography• Example Abstract for Dreikers. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/jshindl/cm/Dreikurs%20abstract.htm

• Exploring the Theories of Democratic Teaching: Rudolf Dreikurs. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_manning_classroom_2/47/12136/3107027.cw/index.html

• M.S.Khine, A.Lourdusamy, Q.C. Lang, Angela F.L Wong. (2005). Classroom Management : Facilitating Teaching and Learning. Pearson Prentice Hall.

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

• ULMClassroomManagement - Rudolf Dreikurs. (n.d.). InULMClassroomManagement - home. Retrieved from http://ulmclassroommanagement.wikispaces.com/Rudolf+Dreikurs