Lee Canter's Assertive Model Analysis

ASSERTIVE DISCIPLINE
This model is developed by Lee Canter who is a child guidance specialist. He has established an organization in California called Canter and Associates, through which he provides training for teachers who want to become more assertive in their teaching. He and his wife lead workshops all over the US and the world. Canter believes that teachers have traditionally ignore their own needs in the classroom. However, they have their own needs, wants, and feelings just as their students. For Canter, teachers must insist that their own rights are met in the classroom. These rights include : The right to establish classroom rules and procedures that produce the optimum learning environment The right to insist on behavior from students that meets teachers’ needs The right to receive help in
disciplining from both parents and school administrators when support is needed. Students also have rights. They have the right to have teachers who will limit inappropriate behavior, who will provide positive support for appropriate behavior and who will communicate how students should behave and what will happen if they do not.
Canters advocate that teachers must learn to assert themselves. Assertive teachers clearly and firmly communicate personal wants and needs to students and are prepared to enforce their words with appropriate actions. They atttempt to get their own needs met and still take into account the capabilities of their students. Teachers need to communicate the idea that they care too much about themselves to allow students to take advantage of them.They also need to show students that they care too much about them to allow their inappropriate behavior to go unnoticed.
In simple terms, assertive teachers let students know that they mean what they say and say what they mean.
The assertive teacher is able to identify wants and feelings in interpersonal situations verbalize wants and feelings in a straightforward way persist in stating wants and feelings use a firm tone of voice maintain eye contact when speaking reinforce verbal statements with nonverbal gestures
An assertive teacher protects the rights of both the teacher and the student. With this style, he makes his expectations known to students in a calm and businesslike manner. He backs up his words with actions when necessary. Assertive response: While continuing to lecture, the teacher moves over to the chattering students and says “Ahmet and Ali, the rule in this class is that while one person is talking the rest of the class will remain quiet and listen.
I want you to stop talking, turn around and face front, and pay attention to the lecture.” Comment: Assertive teachers act in a calm, confident and businesslike manner. They let their discipline plan do all of the work. The response they desire is clearly communicated.
In assertive discipline model, the teacher has to write out a discipline plan, gives a copy to the principal for approval and sends it home to parents asking feedback and suggestions. The teacher also teaches the plan to the students on the first day of the class.
Assertive command: say name, gesture, touch, establish eye contact and tell the student exactly what to do. “Ahmet, you knew the rules and you have chosen to break them, now you must experience the consequences (states the student’s name, points a finger at her, and then gestures toward the door and makes eye contact) I want you to stand, go out to door and go straight to the principal’s
office.” If the student does not do what is asked from her, then the teacher repeats assertive command three times which is called broken record, then follow with consequences. The broken record technique involves a teacher’s insistent but not mean repetition of her original message.The teacher repeats the reques as originally stated- like a broken record. Teachers should use the exact words, same tone, same volume each time the request is delivered. Suggested classroom procedures Scanning: While working with a group of students, the teacher periodically looks up and over the remaining students in the classroom and gives praise statements to those who are actively working. Circulating the classroom: “Don’t stay seated behind your desk” directs the assertive discipline. Get on your feet and move around the classroom.