Thomas Gordon’s Teacher Effectiveness Training Model Randy Kuiper & Natasha Wilson Cornerstone University

Gordon’s Background Lived from 1918-2002. A licensed clinical psychologist who received many educational degrees. Widely recognized as a pioneer in teaching communication skills and conflict resolution methods to parents, teachers, youth, organization managers, and employees Founded Gordon Training International, which is a human relations training organization based on the Gordon Model and located in 48 countries

Works of Gordon Gordon has authored 9 books, including: Group-Centered Leadership Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) Leader Effectiveness Training (L.E.T.) Teacher Effectiveness Training (T.E.T.) Parent Effectiveness Training in Action Discipline That Works.  He has also written and published over 50 articles on the topics of organizational leadership, communications, counseling, discipline, parenting, and conflict resolution.

Gordon’s Training Programs Leader Effectiveness Training (LET) program Introduced in 1957, but revised many times since Taught in hundreds of corporations around the world, including Fortune 500 companies Parent Effectiveness Training (PET) program Introduced in 1962 and was the first skill based training program designed for parents. Taught to more than a million parents in 50+ countries Teacher Effectiveness Training (TET) program Introduced in 1974 for parents who wanted their children to be treated the same way at school as they were treated at home

The Theory for Teacher Effectiveness Training Teachers need to develop stronger student-teacher relationships to improve effectiveness and decrease management issues.

How do I make this happen? Proper conflict resolution techniques What is causing the problem? Whose problem is this? Teacher’s problem Don’t put the student on the defense Student’s problem Communicate in a way that actually solves the problem I already do this in my classroom…don’t I?

Well… 1. Give commands and make demands 2. Make threats and give warnings 3. Preach and try to appeal to the student’s morals 4. Give advice and offer suggestions 5. Judgmental and criticizing 6. Name-call (“You are just lazy.”)

None of these solve the problem! Well… 7. Sarcastic 8. Give out punishments 9. Point out the student’s faults 10. Produce student defensiveness None of these solve the problem!

So, what solves the problem? 1. Making inquiries to clarify the cause for the problem Ask questions that promote trust and are nonjudgmental 2. Using non-confrontive messages I-messages (Teacher-owned problems) 3. Convincing them to trade unacceptable behavior for acceptable behavior 4. Using alternatives to punishments 5. Making changes to the environment 6. Active listening The goal is to find out what is causing the problem and eliminate it from the child’s environment.

Strengths Weaknesses Time-consuming Improves student-teacher relationships Helps teachers re-think classroom management Provides tips on getting to the root of the problem Encourages ownership for the problem which increases student responsibility. Can be used to increase students’ abilities to work in groups Time-consuming Conflict resolution is one aspect of effective teaching May diminish the teacher’s authority

Gordon Training International Trains teachers on how to use the program 45 hour program 4 step process to each session Structure: presentations, recordings, videos, readings Involvement: role-playing, workbook activities, skill practice Process: discussions, reflections, one-on-one time Application: individual and group activities Email: info@gordontraining.com Web:  http://www.gordontraining.com

Christian Perspective “Train up a child in the way he should go…” Proverbs 22:6a (King James Version) As teachers, we are called to train our students in the way of the Lord. This involves the way in which we handle management and discipline. Training up students in the right way means handling discipline cases in the proper way, which is by bringing God’s Word whenever possible. This can be accomplished much easier in Christian schools than in public schools.

Christian Perspective Psalm 94:12 says “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law.” While Gordon thinks that handing out punishments is not the correct thing to do, the Bible states here that those who are disciplined will be blessed if they take heed to the laws of God. John 7:24 says “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” Gordon also states that being judgmental towards students will not solve the problem. The Bible instructs us that we are to use right judgment to guide our students.

Christian Perspective “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” Proverbs 20:11 Teachers have a lot of room to make improvements in the ways they deal with student behavior and discipline. Students need to realize that the ways in which they behave are known by God. As Christians, we remember that God has entrusted each one of our students into our care. As teachers, we must strive to deal with behavior and discipline in a way that glorifies God.

References Gordon, T. (2003). Teacher effectiveness training. New York City, NY: Three Rivers Press. Gordon Training International. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.gordontraining.com Teacher effectiveness training: Thomas Gordon. (2004). Retrieved from The University of South Dakota http://sunburst.usd.edu/~kreins/learningModules/TeacherEffectivenessTr aining.htm