Conclusion: Thomas Gordon theories of Education

The ideas about effective teaching has been explained by Dr. Thomas Gordon as relationships between the students and teachers and vice-versa, communication to ensure that both the teacher and the student are on the same wave link. He advocates that once these forms of communications have been achieved, then further learning can be achieved. It is about focusing on the barriers preventing cognitive and academic development and achievement, tackling those barriers in order to pursue learning and teaching. He explains that learning can be fun and enjoyable if those "communicative" skills can be developed by the teacher and the students can be understood by their teachers. Also, the students learn the fundamental importance and feel safe and able to attack their problems in a safe and appropriate way.

Bibliography:

Gordon, Thomas., Teacher Effective Training (New York, Three Rivers Press, 2003)

Retrieved from;

Gordon Training International:
http://www.gordontraining.com/about-dr-gordon.html

How to deal with student problems.

“Many Students feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the task of trying to manage a classroom learning environment. When a large number of students are simultaneously trying to get their needs met, some are bound to become annoying, boisterous, stubborn, loud, aggressive, forgetful, selfish, inconsiderate, absentminded, or capable of destructive behavior”. (G. Thomas, ‘Teacher Effective Training (T.E.T), (New York, Three Rivers Press 1990 pp. 125)

If there is a problem within the class with a particular student, often it is caused by external factors. For example; some students may stare out the window, some may be loud, argumentative or simply even disengages with the classroom activities. Thomas Gordon advocates that these problems need to be addressed before any learning could be achieved. In other words, students need help from their teachers in other ways other than just book learning. Most teachers have had no prior learning about how to deal with such factors other then their own life experience, Gordon believes that in order to be a good and effective teacher, their communication skills, and the teacher needs psychology skills need to be developed in order to achieve effective teaching and learning. So, perhaps by adopting the communicative skills as devised by Dr. Gordon such as; Listening, Talking, and by addressing the external problems that are happing within the home, the connection between the teacher and student may be fulfilled and effective teaching may start to happen. Perhaps the problems need to be attacked first, i.e. the student may be hungry, so the student may need fed?

Thomas Gordon’s theory of conflict resolution can be implemented through a “Peace Table,” which is permanently located in a section of each classroom. If a conflict among students occurs in a classroom setting, the students are required to sit at the “Peace Table” and discuss their individual feelings. The peace table is equipped with a graphic organizer, which lists the steps students are required to take in order to resolve the conflict. The steps are as follows:

  1.   Student A uses I-messages to explain how he/she feels about the present situation.

  2.   Student B practices active listening while Student A shares his/her feelings.

  3.   Student B uses I-messages to explain how he/she feels about the present situation.

  4.   Student A practices active listening while Student B shares his/her feelings.

  5.   Students A and B agree on a common solution after their discourse is complete.

Communication: Teacher-Student Relationships

Teacher effective learning as devised by Dr. Thomas Gordon takes many forms in terms of the ideal and best way to educate people. However some of the philosophies that I would like to discuss of his are; teacher-student relationships and what he considers to be a good teacher-student relationship for effective teaching, and what Gordon advises teachers to do when a student has problems. There will be examples of how he supposes these ideas and philosophies work in practice. First of all, Thomas Gordon advocates that there must be some kind of connection, link, or bridge between the teacher and learner. Thomas Gordon’s book Teacher Effective Training is a programme designed for professionals, and anyone who instructs to increase their skills for effective instructing or teaching. These people can be anyone from parents to school teachers or even the sports coach.

Dr. Thomas Gordon advocates that it is essential to zero in on the fact that teaching and learning are two very different functions, and they require two different and distinct processes. So therefore, there needs to be a kind of connection made between the two in order to seek effective education, some kind of connection needs to be established. The teacher has the responsibility to teach while the student has to learn the content he is given. However, if the student feels put down, misunderstood, pushed around, humiliated in some way, or critically evaluated, then he or she will become stubbornly resistant. Gordon believes that, the teachers are often untrained and unskilled to help students deal with their external problems and therefore many students become rebellious, and teacher’s problems are then created as a reaction to the student’s rebellious and often resentful ways. Therefore it may cause a break down in the relationship and loss of valuable teaching time. There is skill in having the ability to relate to students, that can be delivered in many ways; some of which are devised by Thomas Gordon as; 1. Talking which can be delivered in many forms mainly the appropriate and positive kind 2. Listening and 3. Parenthetically. By using these three elements of communication, Gordon holds the notion that effective teaching can be delivered. There is also the notion held by Gordon, that whatever the subject area, learning can be made fun and interesting.

Most of Gordon’s book deals with communication skills between the student and the teacher. One of the most effective ways of building a relationship with your students can be achieved through mere talking; something which we all do very easily but some talk can be equally demoralizing as it can be comforting and rewarding. He implies that it is the teacher’s moral duty to select positive talk and praise to uplift the spirits and enthusiasm of the students as opposed to negative feedback and comments that may perhaps demoralize the students or make the feel despondent and put down. Listening is also another common tool which he has adopted as positive form of communication. He advocates that many of us use this skill everyday but implies that perhaps many of us do not actually hear the true messages that the students are trying to communicate with us. He advises that perhaps many teachers may like to consider assessing your own listening skills by finding out what the student really means. An example may be perhaps paraphrasing the question to the student and seek to find an answer together to ensure you know as the teacher what it is the student is trying to communicate. This then leads us on to the final form of communication in this essay. There are times when students should be ignored. This type of communication may be adopted when the children are displaying disruptive or using inappropriate behavior. This is where the advice “be a good listener” needs to be ignored and where the teacher or parents need to show the child that they are interfering with there rights. This message however, needs to be delivered in a way that the child does not feel squelched, put down, or even defensive.

Gordon’s theory about a good teacher- student relationship in summary is about creating a link between the student and the teacher by being open, caring, interdependent, separate and where mutual satisfaction is achieved. This is his theory below.

What is a good teacher- student relationship?

The relationship between a teacher and a student is good when it has

(1) Openness or transparency, so each is able to risk directness and honesty with the other; (2) caring, when each knows that she is valued by the other;

(3) Interdependence (as opposed to dependency) of one on the other;

(4) Separateness, to allow each to grow and to develop her uniqueness, creativity, and individuality; and

(5) Mutual satisfaction, so that neither’s needs are met at the expense of the other’s.

Communication: Teacher-Student Relationships

Teacher effective learning as devised by Dr. Thomas Gordon takes many forms in terms of the ideal and best way to educate people. However some of the philosophies that I would like to discuss of his are; teacher-student relationships and what he considers to be a good teacher-student relationship for effective teaching, and what Gordon advises teachers to do when a student has problems. There will be examples of how he supposes these ideas and philosophies work in practice. First of all, Thomas Gordon advocates that there must be some kind of connection, link, or bridge between the teacher and learner. Thomas Gordon’s book Teacher Effective Training is a programme designed for professionals, and anyone who instructs to increase their skills for effective instructing or teaching. These people can be anyone from parents to school teachers or even the sports coach.

Dr. Thomas Gordon advocates that it is essential to zero in on the fact that teaching and learning are two very different functions, and they require two different and distinct processes. So therefore, there needs to be a kind of connection made between the two in order to seek effective education, some kind of connection needs to be established. The teacher has the responsibility to teach while the student has to learn the content he is given. However, if the student feels put down, misunderstood, pushed around, humiliated in some way, or critically evaluated, then he or she will become stubbornly resistant. Gordon believes that, the teachers are often untrained and unskilled to help students deal with their external problems and therefore many students become rebellious, and teacher’s problems are then created as a reaction to the student’s rebellious and often resentful ways. Therefore it may cause a break down in the relationship and loss of valuable teaching time. There is skill in having the ability to relate to students, that can be delivered in many ways; some of which are devised by Thomas Gordon as; 1. Talking which can be delivered in many forms mainly the appropriate and positive kind 2. Listening and 3. Parenthetically. By using these three elements of communication, Gordon holds the notion that effective teaching can be delivered. There is also the notion held by Gordon, that whatever the subject area, learning can be made fun and interesting.

Most of Gordon’s book deals with communication skills between the student and the teacher. One of the most effective ways of building a relationship with your students can be achieved through mere talking; something which we all do very easily but some talk can be equally demoralizing as it can be comforting and rewarding. He implies that it is the teacher’s moral duty to select positive talk and praise to uplift the spirits and enthusiasm of the students as opposed to negative feedback and comments that may perhaps demoralize the students or make the feel despondent and put down. Listening is also another common tool which he has adopted as positive form of communication. He advocates that many of us use this skill everyday but implies that perhaps many of us do not actually hear the true messages that the students are trying to communicate with us. He advises that perhaps many teachers may like to consider assessing your own listening skills by finding out what the student really means. An example may be perhaps paraphrasing the question to the student and seek to find an answer together to ensure you know as the teacher what it is the student is trying to communicate. This then leads us on to the final form of communication in this essay. There are times when students should be ignored. This type of communication may be adopted when the children are displaying disruptive or using inappropriate behavior. This is where the advice “be a good listener” needs to be ignored and where the teacher or parents need to show the child that they are interfering with there rights. This message however, needs to be delivered in a way that the child does not feel squelched, put down, or even defensive.

Gordon’s theory about a good teacher- student relationship in summary is about creating a link between the student and the teacher by being open, caring, interdependent, separate and where mutual satisfaction is achieved. This is his theory below.

What is a good teacher- student relationship?

The relationship between a teacher and a student is good when it has

(1) Openness or transparency, so each is able to risk directness and honesty with the other; (2) caring, when each knows that she is valued by the other;

(3) Interdependence (as opposed to dependency) of one on the other;

(4) Separateness, to allow each to grow and to develop her uniqueness, creativity, and individuality; and

(5) Mutual satisfaction, so that neither’s needs are met at the expense of the other’s.

Dr. Thomas Gordon:

Teacher Effectiveness Training:

The idea of this blog is to post some of Dr. Thomas Gordon's ideas, philosophies, beliefs and opinions about effective teaching and some examples of how it supposed to work. Most of the ideas throughout this blog is Gordon's ideas that were published in his book about effective teaching; Teacher Effective Training (T.E.T.). Some of the philosophies which will be discussed are; Teacher and Learner Relationships, the two types of verbal communication and their effects on students and some of Gordon's ideas about what to do when students give them problems. There will also be models and scenarios given based on the philosophies chosen for discussion.

Dr. Thomas Gordon

About Dr. Thomas Gordon;

Thomas Gordon is a clinical psychologist. Gordon received his B.A. from DePauw University, his M.A. from Ohio State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, where he served on the faculty for five years. From 1942-1946 he served in the Army Air Force. Thomas Gordon was born on the 11th of march 1918 and is widely known as an American Clinical Psychologist, and mainly for his contribution in teaching communication skills and conflict resolution methods and models for parents, teachers, youth organisation managers and employees.
Dr. Thomas Gordon
(This picture was retrieved from the web link:
http://members.1012surfnet.at/pfs/gordon.gif)

He is the author of nine books: Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.), Leader Effectiveness Training (L.E.T.), Group-Centered Leadership,Parent Effectiveness Training in Action, Discipline That Works, Sales Effectiveness Training (co-authored with Carl Zaiss), Making The Patient Your Partner (co-authored with W. Sterling Edwards, M.D.) and Good Relationships: What Makes Them, What Breaks Them (co-authored with Noel Burch), Teacher Effectiveness Training (T.E.T.). These books have been published in 28 languages and over 6 million copies have been sold all around the world.