Center for Empowered Teaching

	True change occurs when we empower, not overpower. ..Violence is the ultimate act of those who feel powerless and alienated. It happens after long periods of peer rejection and intense anger. Attempts to contain school violence by overpowering the problem child increase the feelings of powerlessness and alienation. Escalated anger will be avenged through revenge, self destruction, or both, and yet we continue to use these unsuccessful methods because we know of nothing better. There is a better way; it is called Empowered Teaching.
You can learn Empowered Teaching by attending a course, in-person, via VHS/DVD video, or online. How Empowered Teaching Works Empowered Discipline is more effective than traditional discipline methods because the students' desire for friends is much stronger than their desire to comply. Rather than removing problem students, Empowered Discipline works within the peer group. Central to Empowered Discipline is the fact that students engage in good or bad behavior in order to maintain friends. The teacher uses feedback strategies to cause students to communicate that misbehavior isn't "cool". As a result the class redefines behaviors that are acceptable or "cool" within the students' peer group. The "problem" student and the whole class's behavior moves to higher levels as the group redefines what behaviors are needed to have friends. This new criteria for having friends is stimulated by the teacher. The teacher is not asking for specific behaviors during feedback, only naming and rating them. Uncontaminated by rewards and punishments, this neutral communication attracts the students towards the positive behaviors that the teacher names. Students Take Responsibility without Punishments or Rewards Empowered students enjoy taking responsibility for themselves and their group. The feedback stimulates self evaluation, followed by either self or peer correction . In an Empowered Teaching classroom it is common to hear students say, "Shhh, get to work." In fact the problem students often end up taking the lead in correcting fellow students because they are often the natural leaders among their peers. Negative leaders stop misbehaving and begin to lead in a positive direction. The students demand more of themselves when the classroom is driven by feedback. The result is a class with higher standards of behavior than teachers would think of asking. Empowered Teaching Restores Respect Empowered Teaching is a potent force because the message that problem behavior is not acceptable comes directly from the peer group, not from the authority figure. Since the Empowered Teaching teacher doesn't get into confrontations, students regain and maintain respect for the teacher and for learning. Empowered Teaching is Easy to Use Empowered Teaching breaks down all student misbehavior into 4 categories: impulsive students, rebellious students, discouraged students and students in denial. Like a doctor treating a patient, the teacher matches the feedback strategy to the style of misbehavior needed by an individual or group. Teachers and students enjoy these easy to use and practical feedback strategies. You can learn Empowered Teaching by attending a course online, in-person, or via VHS video. Click here for a schedule of upcoming events. Empowered Teaching Builds Essential Life Skills The 21st century is the century of interdependence at every level. We need each other to survive now. To prepare for the future as well as survive the present we must enable students to be competent members of the global village. That means learning how to solve inter-relational problems as well as math problems. Empowered Teaching brings classroom management and instruction into the 21st century. Copyright: Marilyn Dikeos 2005 Not to be reprinted without permission. (For reprint rights call 800-370-3574).

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