Maintaining sanity in the classroom: illustrated teaching techniques

Dr. Dreikurs provides insightful and necessary information for teachers and parents today. It was enlightening to learn the 4 Adlerian Goals of Misbehavior (Need for: Attention, Power, Revenge, Discouragement) that children exhibit and how to deal with those behaviors to help children in a respectful and successful manner. There are many ideas such as the approach to discuss behaviors as a group in the classroom that lead children to understand their own behaviors as well as their friends' and how to help each other. Of great interest is also the approach of family meetings, and the examples, role play and dialogues are fantastic scenarios that help us learn HOW to follow the advice provided in the book. I was saddened to learn how I may have caused the competitive behavior of my own child, though happy to learn how to reverse what has been done. Understanding why our generation is transitioning in the way we parent as opposed to our parents and grandparents is provided...we are moving from autocratic to democratic methods. And after reading the chapter regarding this transition, it is logical why we have a struggle. Many of us are looking for help to move towards a more child-friendly approach, which is EXACTLY what "Maintaing Sanity in the Classroom" provides. All children would be much better off if all teachers had extensive training in the areas addressed by this excellent book.

I usually do not write reviews, but I had to say that I disagree with the previous reviewer's belief that this book was more applicable to elementary-school teachers. I am a middle school and high school teacher and believe that the techniques used in this book are just as helpful for upper-level teachers. There are even two chapters on particular concerns with adolescents. Those teachers who use the Responsive Classroom system of discipline will find that this book provides additional techniques to counsel children and aid them to become responsible citizens.

This book should be a requirement for every teachers ed program. It talks to evry discipline problem that may be encountered, from the ordinary to the severe. It is more applicable to the elementary level than to the secondary level. As a school counselor, I gave it to my daughter as she began her teaching career.