Ginott Ginott By: Dana Snack

Brief History of Haim Ginott ( ) Began his career as a teacher in Israel in Moved to the United States and earned a doctoral degree in After this he began to really refine his ideas about compassion and boundary setting. He impacted adults the most.

Brief History cont. His goal was to help parents and teachers socialize with students while sparking their emotional well being. He taught adults and teachers how to relate and communicate with students in a caring and understanding way, but still show authority.

Key Points to the Ginott Model Congruent Communication Encouraging independence and self respect Avoiding the dangers of praise

Congruent Communication Communicate with students in a way so the students self-esteem increases and conflicts decrease. “Talk to the situation, not the character involved.” (Teacher and the Child p. 84)

Congruent vs. Incongruent A child forgot to return his book to the library: “Your book needs to be returned to the library. It’s overdue” A child forgot to return their book to the library: “ You are so irresponsible! You always procrastinate and forget. Why didn’t you return the book to the library?

Encouraging independence and self respect Ginott believed dependency creates hostility and teachers should encourage independence. Start students off with small choices then gradually allow more independence in their choices. Use reflective listening.

Appropriate praise Appropriate praise tells students what they have accomplished and allows them to draw a conclusion on the value of that praise. Praise, like a drug, makes a child feel good- but only for that moment.

Discipline Find alternative ways of punishment. Avoid any acts that could cause hate. Emphasize prevention. Look at the situation not the student.

Strengths of Ginott Method Allow teachers to establish a positive communication and relationship with their students. Focus on empowering students and developing independence. Ginott method can easily be incorporated into a lot of the other methods because it complements most of the methods well.

Weakness of Ginott Method Not as structured as other methods. Not the “traditional” teacher role.

Negative comments about Ginott method Let them hate you as long as they obey you. There is no place for sensitive people in public schools. Teaching belongs to those who are tough and who don't care. The young need protection from adults with stone souls.

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Ginott’s most famous quote I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or de-humanized. And if the child will love or hate school.

Reference Ginott, H. G. Teacher and Child New York: Collier Books Macmillan Publishing Company, 1993