Allen Mendler
Encyclopedia
Allen Mendler is an American author and educator born on October 21, 1949 in Middle Village, Queens
New York
. He received his PhD
in Education
from Union Institute in 1980, and he has spent over twenty five years developing discipline
with dignity
classroom management
methodology for both regular and special classroom
s. Mendler's emphasis is on developing effective frameworks and strategies for educators to manage behavior
and classrooms. He is an expert at helping youth professionals, teachers, administrators, and parents to help difficult youth succeed.
, Dr. Mendler developed the 'Discipline with Dignity' approach to classroom management
. This methodology attempts to involve students in defining classroom procedures, rule
s, and consequences based on value
s or principles compatible with learning
. The basic strategies include prevention, action, and resolution. This concept relates problems faced in inner-city school
s as they are in rural and suburban schools.
Discipline with Dignity is viewed by proponents of the theory as an in-depth flexible approach for effective school and classroom management. With a strong focus on developing responsibility, it is seen as a comprehensive, practical program that leads to improved student behavior through responsible thinking, cooperation
, mutual respect
, and shared decision making
.
Middle Village, Queens
Middle Village is a neighborhood in central Queens, a borough of New York City. The neighborhood is located in the western central section of Queens, bounded to the north by Eliot Avenue, to the east by Woodhaven Boulevard, to the south by Cooper Avenue, and to the west by Fresh Pond Road...
New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He received his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
from Union Institute in 1980, and he has spent over twenty five years developing discipline
Discipline
In its original sense, discipline is referred to systematic instruction given to disciples to train them as students in a craft or trade, or to follow a particular code of conduct or "order". Often, the phrase "to discipline" carries a negative connotation. This is because enforcement of order –...
with dignity
Dignity
Dignity is a term used in moral, ethical, and political discussions to signify that a being has an innate right to respect and ethical treatment. It is an extension of the Enlightenment-era concepts of inherent, inalienable rights...
classroom management
Classroom management
Classroom management is a term used by teachers to describe the process of ensuring that classroom lessons run smoothly despite disruptive behavior by students. The term also implies the prevention of disruptive behavior. It is possibly the most difficult aspect of teaching for many teachers;...
methodology for both regular and special classroom
Classroom
A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations...
s. Mendler's emphasis is on developing effective frameworks and strategies for educators to manage behavior
Behavior
Behavior or behaviour refers to the actions and mannerisms made by organisms, systems, or artificial entities in conjunction with its environment, which includes the other systems or organisms around as well as the physical environment...
and classrooms. He is an expert at helping youth professionals, teachers, administrators, and parents to help difficult youth succeed.
Discipline with Dignity method
Together with Dr. Richard CurwinRichard Curwin
Richard Curwin, an expert in the fields of school discipline, motivation and classroom management, has been professor of education at State University of New York at Geneseo, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and San Francisco State University....
, Dr. Mendler developed the 'Discipline with Dignity' approach to classroom management
Classroom management
Classroom management is a term used by teachers to describe the process of ensuring that classroom lessons run smoothly despite disruptive behavior by students. The term also implies the prevention of disruptive behavior. It is possibly the most difficult aspect of teaching for many teachers;...
. This methodology attempts to involve students in defining classroom procedures, rule
Rule
Rule, ruler, ruling usually refers to standards for activities. They may refer to:- Human activity :* Business rule, a rule pertaining to the structure or behavior internal to an organization* Game rules, rules that define how a game is played...
s, and consequences based on value
Value (personal and cultural)
A personal or cultural value is an absolute or relative ethical value, the assumption of which can be the basis for ethical action. A value system is a set of consistent values and measures. A principle value is a foundation upon which other values and measures of integrity are based...
s or principles compatible with learning
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
. The basic strategies include prevention, action, and resolution. This concept relates problems faced in inner-city school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s as they are in rural and suburban schools.
Discipline with Dignity is viewed by proponents of the theory as an in-depth flexible approach for effective school and classroom management. With a strong focus on developing responsibility, it is seen as a comprehensive, practical program that leads to improved student behavior through responsible thinking, cooperation
Cooperation
Cooperation or co-operation is the process of working or acting together. In its simplest form it involves things working in harmony, side by side, while in its more complicated forms, it can involve something as complex as the inner workings of a human being or even the social patterns of a...
, mutual respect
Respect
Respect denotes both a positive feeling of esteem for a person or other entity , and also specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. Respect can be a specific feeling of regard for the actual qualities of the one respected...
, and shared decision making
Decision making
Decision making can be regarded as the mental processes resulting in the selection of a course of action among several alternative scenarios. Every decision making process produces a final choice. The output can be an action or an opinion of choice.- Overview :Human performance in decision terms...
.
Books
Dr. Mendler is the author or co-author of many books on classroom management and classroom discipline including:- What Do I Do When?
- Power Struggles: Successful Techniques for Educators
- Motivating Students Who Don't Care
- Connecting with Students
- Discipline with Dignity for Challenging Youth. Published by Solution Tree. page Xi. copyright 2007.