Managing the Classroom Environment

Suzanne G. Houff is a Professor of Education and chair in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She teaches pre-service educators in the areas of curriculum and instruction, classroom management, and educational research. Prior to moving into higher education, she worked as both an elementary and middle school level classroom teacher and as a library media specialist.

I am so pleased to be able to endorse Suzanne Houff's book, Managing the Classroom Environment: Meeting the Needs of the Student, second edition. In it she provides a very clear explanation of the five basic needs and an understanding of why people, including students, do what they do as promoted by Dr. William Glasser's Choice Theory psychology. With this understanding, teachers are lead to no longer focus on the problem behavior but rather to look at the underlying need that is creating the behavior. Dr. Houff provides practical techniques and strategies that are effective in creating a need-satisfying environment in the classroom for both students and teachers, thus reducing the need for classroom discipline. When teachers read, study and implement the ideas in Managing the Classroom Environment, they will experience the joy of teaching, while inspiring the joy of learning in their students.

• PrefaceIntroductionPart I. Getting StartedChapter 1: What you believeChapter 2: Learning to change behaviorBehavior TheoryCognitive TheoryAffective TheorySocial TheoryEcological TheoryBrain-based theoryPart II. Meeting Student NeedsChapter 3: SurvivalSituation AnalysisNourishmentShelterSafetySafety through proceduresBullyingTheory into PracticeChapter 4: BelongingSituation AnalysisKnowing your studentsDeveloping CooperationClass MeetingsTheory into PracticeChapter 5: FunSituation AnalysisEngaging StudentsTheory into PracticeChapter 6: FreedomSituation AnalysisMaking ChoicesAccepting ResponsibilityAccountabilityTheory into ActionChapter 7: PowerSituation AnalysisPower through quality instructionPower through self-disciplineTheory into PracticeChapter 8: Meeting special needsChapter 9: Special Topics: FAQPart III. Establishing GoalsChapter 10: Prevent-Analyze-CorrectBook TugClear Your DeskIpod plunderRules, rules, and more rulesSeeing BloodSimple MachinesThat’s not funnyWrong fingerConclusionAppendicesAppendix A: SurvivalAppendix B: BelongingAppendix C: FunAppendix D: FreedomAppendix E: PowerAppendix F: Management goalsAppendix G: Supporting the needs