Thomas Gordon’s Teacher Thomas Gordon’s Teacher Effectiveness Training ModelEffectiveness Training Model

Randy Kuiper & Natasha WilsonRandy Kuiper & Natasha WilsonCornerstone UniversityCornerstone University

Gordon’s BackgroundGordon’s Background

Lived from 1918-2002.Lived from 1918-2002.

A licensed clinical psychologist A licensed clinical psychologist who received many educational who received many educational degrees.degrees.

Widely recognized as a pioneer in Widely recognized as a pioneer in teaching communication skills and teaching communication skills and conflict resolution methods to conflict resolution methods to parents, teachers, youth, parents, teachers, youth, organization managers, and organization managers, and employeesemployees

Founded Gordon Training Founded Gordon Training International, which is a human International, which is a human relations training organization relations training organization based on the Gordon Model and based on the Gordon Model and located in 48 countrieslocated in 48 countries

Works of GordonWorks of GordonGordon has authored 9 books, including:Gordon has authored 9 books, including:

Group-Centered LeadershipGroup-Centered Leadership

Parent Effectiveness TrainingParent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) (P.E.T.)

Leader Effectiveness TrainingLeader Effectiveness Training (L.E.T.) (L.E.T.)

Teacher Effectiveness TrainingTeacher Effectiveness Training (T.E.T.) (T.E.T.)

Parent Effectiveness Training in ActionParent Effectiveness Training in Action

Discipline That WorksDiscipline That Works.  . 

He has also written and published over 50 He has also written and published over 50 articles on the topics of organizational articles on the topics of organizational leadership, communications, counseling, leadership, communications, counseling, discipline, parenting, and conflict resolution.discipline, parenting, and conflict resolution.

Gordon’s Training ProgramsGordon’s Training Programs

Leader Effectiveness Training (LET) programLeader Effectiveness Training (LET) program– Introduced in 1957, but revised many times sinceIntroduced in 1957, but revised many times since– Taught in hundreds of corporations around the world, including Taught in hundreds of corporations around the world, including

Fortune 500 companiesFortune 500 companies

Parent Effectiveness Training (PET) programParent Effectiveness Training (PET) program– Introduced in 1962 and was the first skill based training program Introduced in 1962 and was the first skill based training program

designed for parents.designed for parents.– Taught to more than a million parents in 50+ countriesTaught to more than a million parents in 50+ countries

Teacher Effectiveness Training (TET) programTeacher Effectiveness Training (TET) program– Introduced in 1974 for parents who wanted their children to be Introduced in 1974 for parents who wanted their children to be

treated the same way at school as they were treated at hometreated the same way at school as they were treated at home

The Theory The Theory for Teacherfor Teacher

Effectiveness TrainingEffectiveness Training

Teachers need to develop stronger Teachers need to develop stronger student-teacher relationships to student-teacher relationships to

improve effectiveness and improve effectiveness and decrease management issues.decrease management issues.

How do I make this happen?How do I make this happen?

Proper conflict resolution techniquesProper conflict resolution techniques– What is causing the problem?What is causing the problem?– Whose problem is this?Whose problem is this?

Teacher’s problemTeacher’s problem– Don’t put the student on the defenseDon’t put the student on the defense

Student’s problemStudent’s problem– Communicate in a way that actually solves the problemCommunicate in a way that actually solves the problem

I already do this in my classroom…don’t I?I already do this in my classroom…don’t I?

Well…Well…

1. Give commands and make demands1. Give commands and make demands

2. Make threats and give warnings2. Make threats and give warnings

3. Preach and try to appeal to the student’s 3. Preach and try to appeal to the student’s moralsmorals

4. Give advice and offer suggestions4. Give advice and offer suggestions

5. Judgmental and criticizing5. Judgmental and criticizing

6. Name-call (“You are just lazy.”)6. Name-call (“You are just lazy.”)

Well…Well…

7. Sarcastic7. Sarcastic

8. Give out punishments8. Give out punishments

9. Point out the student’s faults9. Point out the student’s faults

10. Produce student defensiveness10. Produce student defensiveness

None of these solve the problem!None of these solve the problem!

So, what solves the problem?So, what solves the problem?

1. Making inquiries to clarify the cause for the problem1. Making inquiries to clarify the cause for the problem Ask questions that promote trust and are nonjudgmentalAsk questions that promote trust and are nonjudgmental

2. Using non-confrontive messages2. Using non-confrontive messagesI-messages (Teacher-owned problems)I-messages (Teacher-owned problems)

3. Convincing them to trade unacceptable behavior for 3. Convincing them to trade unacceptable behavior for acceptable behavioracceptable behavior

4. Using alternatives to punishments4. Using alternatives to punishments5. Making changes to the environment5. Making changes to the environment6. Active listening6. Active listening

The goal is to find out what is causing the problemThe goal is to find out what is causing the problem and eliminate it from the child’s environment.and eliminate it from the child’s environment.

StrengthsStrengths

Improves student-teacher Improves student-teacher relationshipsrelationshipsHelps teachers re-think Helps teachers re-think classroom managementclassroom managementProvides tips on getting to Provides tips on getting to the root of the problemthe root of the problemEncourages ownership for Encourages ownership for the problem which the problem which increases student increases student responsibility.responsibility.Can be used to increase Can be used to increase students’ abilities to work in students’ abilities to work in groupsgroups

WeaknessesWeaknesses

Time-consumingTime-consuming

Conflict resolution is one Conflict resolution is one aspect of effective aspect of effective teachingteaching

May diminish the May diminish the teacher’s authorityteacher’s authority

Gordon Training InternationalGordon Training International

Trains teachers on how to use the programTrains teachers on how to use the program– 45 hour program45 hour program– 4 step process to each session4 step process to each session

Structure: presentations, recordings, videos, readingsStructure: presentations, recordings, videos, readings

Involvement: role-playing, workbook activities, skill Involvement: role-playing, workbook activities, skill practicepractice

Process: discussions, reflections, one-on-one timeProcess: discussions, reflections, one-on-one time

Application: individual and group activitiesApplication: individual and group activities

Email: Email: info@gordontraining.cominfo@gordontraining.com

Web:  Web:  http://www.gordontraining.comhttp://www.gordontraining.com

Christian PerspectiveChristian Perspective

““Train up a child in the way he should go…” Train up a child in the way he should go…” Proverbs 22:6a (King James Version)Proverbs 22:6a (King James Version)– As teachers, we are called to train our students in the As teachers, we are called to train our students in the

way of the Lord. This involves the way in which we way of the Lord. This involves the way in which we handle management and discipline.handle management and discipline.

– Training up students in the right way means handling Training up students in the right way means handling discipline cases in the proper way, which is by discipline cases in the proper way, which is by bringing God’s Word whenever possible.bringing God’s Word whenever possible.

– This can be accomplished much easier in Christian This can be accomplished much easier in Christian schools than in public schools.schools than in public schools.

Christian PerspectiveChristian Perspective

Psalm 94:12 says “Blessed is the man whom Psalm 94:12 says “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law.”thy law.”

While Gordon thinks that handing out punishments is not the While Gordon thinks that handing out punishments is not the correct thing to do, the Bible states here that those who are correct thing to do, the Bible states here that those who are disciplined will be blessed if they take heed to the laws of disciplined will be blessed if they take heed to the laws of God.God.

John 7:24 says “Judge not according to the John 7:24 says “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

Gordon also states that being judgmental towards students Gordon also states that being judgmental towards students will not solve the problem. The Bible instructs us that we are will not solve the problem. The Bible instructs us that we are to use right judgment to guide our students.to use right judgment to guide our students.

Christian PerspectiveChristian Perspective

““Even a child is known by his doings, whether his Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Proverbs work be pure, and whether it be right.” Proverbs 20:1120:11

Teachers have a lot of room to make improvements in the ways Teachers have a lot of room to make improvements in the ways they deal with student behavior and discipline. they deal with student behavior and discipline. Students need to realize that the ways in which they behave Students need to realize that the ways in which they behave are known by God.are known by God.

As Christians, we remember that God has As Christians, we remember that God has entrusted each one of our students into our care. entrusted each one of our students into our care. As teachers, we must strive to deal with behavior As teachers, we must strive to deal with behavior and discipline in a way that glorifies God.and discipline in a way that glorifies God.

ReferencesReferences

Gordon, T. (2003). Gordon, T. (2003). Teacher effectiveness trainingTeacher effectiveness training. New York City, NY: Three . New York City, NY: Three Rivers Press.Rivers Press.

Gordon Training International. (2011). Retrieved from Gordon Training International. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.gordontraining.comhttp://www.gordontraining.com

Teacher effectiveness training: Thomas Gordon. (2004). Retrieved from The Teacher effectiveness training: Thomas Gordon. (2004). Retrieved from The University of South Dakota University of South Dakota

http://sunburst.usd.edu/~kreins/learningModules/TeacherEffectivenessTrhttp://sunburst.usd.edu/~kreins/learningModules/TeacherEffectivenessTraining.htmaining.htm