Beyond Behaviorism: Changing the Classroom Management Paradigm

Nine contributions discuss the current paradigm of behaviorism of in today's classrooms and why it must change. They explain the underpinnings of behaviorism, provide four classroom management models, and present the context in which change needs to occur. The papers derive from the 1996 and 1997 Classroom Management Special Interest Group sessions of the American Educational Research Association, held in San Francisco, California. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

This book was developed as a result of the Classroom Management Special Interest Group at the American Educational Research Association because it was apparent that many educators were looking for alternatives to the current paradigm of behaviorism that is currently so prevalent in the American classroom. This edited volume includes chapters by many of the leaders in the classroom management field and is designed to examine the philosophical underpinnings of behaviorism and show why the change is needed.

Section 1 is an overview of the theory and history behind classroom management; Section 2 illustrates specific classroom management programs and describes the ways in which changes can be made to move beyond behaviorism; Section 3 looks at the best practices for students and teachers and at how individually and collectively we can create a sustainable model of classroom discipline.

For anyone interested in classroom management and educational psychology.