This book presents an alternative to the "one size fits all" classroom approach. The majority of classroom management books present generic strategies as if they are applicable to all students. The underlying assertion of such books is that if teachers use such approaches, student behavior problems will seldom occur. An alternative framework, presented in this book, asserts that teachers need to incorporate knowledge about temperament into their strategies for classroom management. As studies have demonstrated, targeted temperament-based strategies succeed where global disciplinary practices have failed. Because students differ in their temperaments, variations in classroom behavior are to be expected. Child temperament is the inborn individual characteristics that affect the way children react to different situations. It is also a social processing system through which children view and interact with the world, both altering the responses of others and contributing toward their own development. Once teachers learn the major tenets of temperament, they no longer view their students as intentionally misbehaving.
Instead they understand how the temperaments of their students influence their classroom behavior. Such insights release teachers from engaging in futile battles with their students. They can redirect their energies into enhancing their relationships with their students, implementing effective temperament-based strategies, and, as a result, spend more time on instructional activities.
Industry Reviews
At a time when most texts on classroom management emphasize teacher control of student behavior, Dr. McClowry offers a practical, evidence-based, and thoroughly student-centered perspective. Her approach reminds us that classroom management isn't something teachers do to students; it's something teachers do with students. -- Joan Walker, Ph.D., associate professor, school of education, Pace University and past chair of the classroom management special interest group of the American Education Research Association
In this important new book Sandee McClowry provides clear and concrete advice to educators on how to address challenges related to the temperament of children. The advice offered is critical for maintaining orderly and humane learning environments, and the recommendations are rooted in sound research. For those seeking to create classrooms where the academic and emotional needs of children can be addressed this book will be an invaluable resource. -- Pedro A. Noguera Ph.D, distinguished professor of education UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies
Sandee McClowry's evidence-based INSIGHTS program used puppets and videos to teach parents, teachers and children about temperament. In this exciting new book, she gives teachers new ways of temperament based thinking about children and specific classroom strategies that put them into practice. The book is highly recommended to teachers in training and at all levels of experience. -- Mary K. Rothbart, PhD, distinguished professor of psychology emerita
