CHOICE THEORY CLASSROOM

by William Glasser

William Glasser, M.D., puts his successful choice theory to work in our schools--with a new approach in increasing student motivation. "Dr. Glasser translates choice theory into a productive, classroom model of team learning with emphasis on satisfaction and excitement. Working in small teams, students find that knowledge contributes to power, friendship and fun. Because content and the necessary student collaboration skills must be taught, teachers need to develop skills if they are to use this model successfully. The dividends are 'turned-on ' students and satisfied teachers."
--Madeline Hunter, University of California at Los Angeles " Choice Theory in the Classroom is a landmark book, without question one of the most important and useful books for teachers to appear in a long while. Written with rare lucidity and grace, the book has numerous instantly usable ideas that will contribute fundamentally to the success of classroom teachers. William Glasser combines his extensive theoretical expertise and wide practical experience to provide a practical and illuminating guide for teachers [that] should be required reading in every college of education in the country."
--David and Roger Johnson, University of Minnesota " Choice Theory in the Classroom presents an insightful analysis of what is wrong with traditional school and what need to be done about it. Dr. Glasser gives a compelling rationale for the use of learning-teams in schools to capture the excitement and commitment students display in sports but rarely in the classroom. The book is well written and persuasive. I hope every teacher in America buys it, believes it, and behaves accordingly."
--Robert Slavin, John Hopkins University

Genres: Education, Teaching, Psychology, Nonfiction, Philosophy

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Ryan Krueger · Rating 3 out of 5]

***William Glasser is the author of ´The Choice Theory in the Classroom´ which is an informative non-fiction book. There is a theme in this book that we have a choice in what we want to do and how we go about everything, so with proper thinking, you can make it the right one. That is repeated in varying ways throughout the book. The author has been going around improving classrooms for decades and eventually decided to write a book on how to apply the choice theory into an everyday classroom. He wrote another book solely focused on the choice theory.

I would like to explain as to why I gave this book a three star rating due to my intent not being to deter anyone from reading this.

The only downside that detracted from the quality of this book would be the repetitiveness that is almost always present. It is a dry read that does not draw the reader in and restates through slightly varied sentences continuously.

However, once you move past that the book has great information. The theory introduced by Glasser is one that is applicable to your daily life past that of the classroom. It explains in a shortened version from another one of his books on how everything we do is a choice and the natural needs every human likes to satisfy. With this in mind, it can help moving on past difficult situations as well as choosing positive coping mechanisms.

Additionally, this book is crafted with the hopes for teachers to be able to maximize the efficiency of their classroom and teaching style. While an informative non-fictional book, it still allowed me to envision myself as a character which in this scenario would be a teacher. This book shed light on areas I previously never thought of and how much variation can be present in teaching styles. Hearing about management from the teachers perspective opened up my eyes on how to be a better student in ways that will help reduce stress and attempt to bring a feeling of satisfaction to any instructors I currently and will eventually have.

While being a difficult book to read at times due to the pace and repetition, it has broadened my perspective of how to maintain self-control and the understanding of a career that I have been exposed to for such a long time while still knowing little about. I would suggest this book to anyone who struggles in school or would like to provide a greater sense of ease in their daily life.

[Mary Slowik · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alright, so someone challenged me to read Choice Theory, but my local library (the largest single-branch library in the country) only had a copy of this for-teachers edition. That should've been my cue...

This is bunk. Dry, repetitive bunk at that. He never even addresses the fallacy of free will. Just go read The Conspiracy Against the Human Race for something actually relevant. I skimmed this to get a primer on Choice Theory, and via interlibrary loan I'll still be getting a copy of that text so I can read the real thing, but still. The author spends so much time advertising his own theory, and it just doesn't compute. It's pop psychology at its worst. He actually suggests you can "choose" to stop having migraines, and that all emotion is behavior. Might as well promote prayer. You feel, by choice. Hence terms like "sicking," "miserabling," "depressing" (as a verb), and other awkward nonsense.

I'm done reviewing, please don't bother reading this, but I will include some gems I managed to catch:

"None of what we do is caused by any situation or person outside of ourselves." Hear that, all you victims out there? Anything you do, any way you feel, is just your choice.

"The choice theory explanation of behavior is that we always choose to do what is most satisfying at the time." I think not. Go read Edgar Allen Poe's "The Imp of the Perverse" if you think that's true.

"All living creatures are driven by the basic need to attempt to stay alive and reproduce so that the species will continue." Tell it to my vasectomy surgeon. Our species should be the first to choose to go extinct. Deny your programming.

"A good comedian is always a good teacher. It is the clear, sharp but unexpected insights of a comic like Bill Cosby that are so filled with learning that we cannot fail to laugh." Uhhh....

"It is no fun to read a book, go to a play or movie and then just think about what we saw or read on our own." You, sir, are merely too weak-minded. If there were no on else on the planet, I'd still enjoy reading books and watching movies. Remember that Twilight Zone episode?

"You don't really know what is in a book until you have discussed it with someone you respect intellectually, perhaps defended your viewpoint and convinced or been convinced that you are right or wrong." Or, y'know, until you just READ it.

And finally...

"...help them decide that knowledge is not only power, it is also friendship and fun..." Laugh. Out. Loud.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Choice theory is the idea that students are motivated by the satisfaction of five basic needs: survival, belonging, power, freedom, and fun. Glasser's argument is that ALL behaviors are choices; it's a matter of figuring out which of the five basic needs are motivating those choices that should inform our teaching. A little bit "work smarter, not harder", a little bit flipped classroom, choice theory and learning-teams (the suggested vehicle for using choice theory in the classroom) are definitely interesting concepts that I'd like to explore. My key issues here are that a) the book was written over 35 years ago, and the portrait of education that Glasser paints is not entirely accurate for today's schools; and b) Glasser legitimately believes that most issues -- including reading and attention difficulties -- are choices, and I don't know that that's true. I will say, though, that in general, Glasser has given me food for thought. I'll take what resonates and ditch the rest.

[Stephen Bigger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Psychology of schooling. Pupils choose their attitudes and approach to life/school, teachers choose their response. That process becomes toxic and needs to be re-thought/re-chosen. A bit simplistic. Solution: learning teams (teams doing projects)

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read not just for teachers, but parents too.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes: If you want something from someone, think before you do something that would make the other person choose to move away. Two ways ppl move away: resist or withdraw, or fight or flee. To prevent fight or flight, which is the beginning of the end of any relationship, whenever they have a problem, they ask themselves, “If I say or do this right now, will it bring us closer together or will we end up further apart?”

People can only control their own behavior. All they can do is give other people information.

Lead managers: show caring for others. It costs nothing and has a huge return.

1. Encourage and welcome others’ ideas on how to make processes better.
2. People are given models so they know exactly what to do.
3. People inspect their own work to decide how to make it highest quality.
4. Teaches the essence of quality is continual improvement.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

its all about good teaching

[Melanie]

I'm picking out the bits and pieces that I'd like to gain from this one...was always very interested in how this theory affects the classroom environment.

[Rivera Readers]

Every teacher must read this! Provides great insight on classroom management and helps make students become responsible for ALL his or her actions!