Learning to Trust: Transforming Difficult Elementary Classrooms Through Developmental Discipline - Hardcover

Marilyn Watson; Laura Ecken; Alfie Kohn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0787966509 ISBN 13: 9780787966508

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 2003

Synopsis

Faced with increasing numbers of children who are difficult to manage and the pervasive presence of high stakes testing, many teachers feel frustrated and compelled to reduce their attention to building relationships with and among their students and their focus on social and ethical development. In Learning to Trust, an educational psychologist and a classroom teacher collaborate to demonstrate through an in-depth case study of an inner-city classroom the power and importance of caring, trusting relationships for fostering children's academic growth as well as their social and ethical development.
Marilyn Watson explains and describes the ups and downs of Laura Ecken's classroom through the lens of attachment theory, while Laura describes in vivid detail the ongoing life of her classroom, revealing throughout her challenges, thoughts, fears, failures and successes. Together they explore a fundamentally new approach to classroom management and present many practical strategies for helping all children develop the social and emotional skills needed to live harmonious and productive lives, the self confidence and curiosity to invest wholeheartedly in learning, and the empathy and moral understanding to be caring and responsible young people.

About this title

From the Publisher:

"Marilyn Watson and Laura Ecken show us the power and the many heartwarming pleasures of creating a caring classroom. This book is profoundly inspirational."
-- Eric Schaps, president, Developmental Studies Center, Oakland, California

"Combining great wisdom, extensive knowledge of research and theory, and years of practical experience, Marilyn Watson compellingly presents an evidence-based model for educating all children more effectively. She provides powerful stories and insightful analyses of student-teacher interactions that engage students, and offers practical strategies and techniques to motivate students to be and do their best. This book will renew the optimism and resolve of educators who sometimes feel frustration and doubt about promoting successful outcomes with challenging students and classrooms. Watson describes approaches and perspectives that can prepare teachers to become the educators that parents want their children to have and that students remember for a lifetime. Watson's views and suggestions will energize and excite readers about the potential positive effects of high-quality education. At CASEL, we are often asked to recommend books for teachers, administrators, and parents about integrated academic, social, and emotional learning. Learning to Trust is at the top of our list."
-- Roger P. Weissberg, executive director, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), professor of psychology and education, University of Illinois at Chicago

"I regard this book as a wonderful gift. It is quite unusual to find a book that is so well grounded both in research-based theory and in classroom practice. I want the content of Learning to Trust to be known by all the participants in the teacher preparation program I direct-- student teachers, master teachers, supervisors, and course instructors."
-- Paul Ammon, Professor of Education and director of the Developmental Teacher Education Program, University of California, Berkeley

"I kept seeing myself and my students in this book. As recognizable negative situations arose I kept thinking, 'How in the world is she going to get out of this one?' Over and over, Laura showed how to turn negative situations around so that the students weren't cornered, but were empowered in a positive way."
-- Sandi Turner, teacher, Mariemont School, Sacramento, California

"In this book, Marilyn Watson has taken years of experience, wedded it to a deep understanding of child development, and applied a powerful ability to listen and interpret the experience of one remarkable and courageous teacher, Laura Ecken. Together, Marilyn and Laura show us all a more enlightened way to work with challenging children in schools. The unique application of attachment theory to classroom management and discipline offers all educators a new vision for fostering healthy classrooms and children of character."
-- Marvin W. Berkowitz, Sanford N. McDonnell Professor of Character Education, College of Education, University of Missouri-St. Louis

"Learning to Trust provides powerful and thought-provoking insights that will act as a springboard for discussion for educators wrestling with the challenge of effective classroom discipline. This book will make you want to talk."
-- Shelia Koshewa, resource teacher and Child Development Project coordinator, Jefferson County Public Schools, Louisville, Kentucky

From the Inside Flap:

Most teachers today are faced with increasing pressure to teach to higher academic standards. At the same time the social climate has become especially challenging, with many children appearing more distressed and difficult than ever. Yet the focus on academic achievement has led some teachers, against their better judgment, to reduce their attention to students' social and ethical growth and to building relationships with and among their students. In Learning to Trust, an educational psychologist and a classroom teacher collaborate on an in-depth case study in an inner-city classroom, told through the teacher's own voice. Using these real-life examples, they demonstrate the power and importance of caring, trusting relationships for fostering not only children's social and ethical development but their academic growth as well.

This book applies attachment theory to the school setting, showing how this perspective can help teachers build collaborative, trusting relationships even with their most challenging students. Marilyn Sheehan Watson explains and describes the ups and downs of Laura Ecken's classroom through the lens of attachment theory, while Laura describes in vivid detail the ongoing life of her classroom, revealing throughout her challenges, thoughts, fears, failures and successes. Together they explore strategies for helping children develop the emotional skills needed to live harmonious and productive lives, the social and communication skills to be a friend and work collaboratively with classmates, the self confidence and curiosity to invest wholeheartedly in learning, and the empathy and personal and moral understanding to be caring and responsible young people.

Learning to Trust will help teachers meet the challenge to care, balance their need for authority with their students' need for autonomy, and support their students' intellectual growth without abandoning their obligation to educate for responsible citizenship and an ethical life.

About this edition

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0787966509
• ISBN 13: 9780787966508
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 318