My classroom management style will coincide with Howard
Glasser’s Nurtured Heart Approach and Love and Logic which was developed by Jim
Fay, Charles Fay, and Foster Cline.
NURTURED HEART APPROACH The Nurtured Heart Approach involves energizing success and de-energizing negativity (What is the Nurtured Heart Approach?, 2014). Energizing success means to give students specific, positive feedback. This kind of encouragement will let students know exactly which behaviors and actions are appropriate and favorable. When students know what they are doing right, then they can repeat those behaviors and allow their peers to learn from their example. De-energizing negativity is using the least amount of energy to put an end to negative behaviors. This could involve using proximity when a student is talking while the teacher is addressing the class, or removing an object of distraction without drawing attention to the situation. De-energizing negativity does not embarrass the student for the negative behavior, but it allows the student to quickly understand that the behavior they were displaying was a negative one that should not be repeated. I believe that drawing attention to the negative behaviors displayed by a student is embarrassing and damaging to the relationship between the teacher and the student. When I was in elementary school, there was an instance in which I held a side conversation with a classmate that was sitting near me when I should have been listening to instruction. My teacher then used my name to bring my attention to her and the entire class turned and looked at me. This was completely humiliating. I turned red, hung my head, and didn’t say a word to anyone for the rest of the day. I couldn’t look at my teacher for a week. I was embarrassed by the negative attention that she shone on me and I will never forget how this made me feel. Because of this experience, I know that I never want to make my students feel this way. I want them to trust me, I want them to know that I am on their side and I’m not out to get them. This is why I firmly believe in the Nurtured Heart Approach.
LOVE AND LOGIC The process of Love and Logic involves giving students choices by allowing them into the decision making process, using empathy when enforcing consequences, and enhancing the self-concept of the students (Fay, n.d.). What I enjoy about Love and Logic is that students are given choices. One way in which students get to have choices and share in decision making is when they are facing consequences. The teacher will sincerely use empathy by saying something like, “I’m sorry that you forgot your homework. What can we do to fix this problem?” It is important to be genuine and sincere in this situations so that the student knows that the teacher is on their side and wants to help. The goal is not to torture the student, it is to aid in the students’ learning. All students are unique, they are individuals, which is why allowing them to help decide on a solution to the problem is important, because one consequence will not be appropriate for every student.
IMPACT OF PERSONALITY ON STYLE My personality is one of care, compassion, and it is soft and gentle. I am not quick to raise my voice as I do not believe that yelling will fix anything. I can show students my authority in the classroom without shouting at them and making them afraid of me. I believe that trust is important, and students have to know that they are valued. I believe that the Nurtured Heart Approach and Love and Logic allow me to show respect to my students. I respect them by allowing them to have a say in the decision making process and by encouraging them. Since I am a caring person, I do not want to give my students negative feelings about themselves or others which is why I will do all that I can to avoid embarrassing them. Students will learn great life skills by living in a community of trust, respect, and positivity.