William Glasser developed Choice Theory which posits that [1] behavior is chosen, [2] the only behavior we can control is our own, and [3] we are driven to satisfy basic needs. Glasser believes thinking and acting can be controlled while feeling and physiology are less controllable but influenced by thoughts and actions. He advocates for meeting student needs through caring habits and natural consequences rather than punishment. Class meetings are key to confronting issues and developing agreed upon plans.

1. WILLIAM GLASSER’S Brenda Goroski
Kira Jones
CHOICE THEORY Sarah Turold

2. WILLIAM GLASSER, MD
 Psychiatrist
 50 years of practice in
psychology and
counseling
 Founded the Institute
for Reality Therapy
 Authored and co-
authored many books
on mental health,
counseling and
improvement in
schools

3. THE BASICS
 Behavior is essential to a
person’s existence and
happiness
 Behavior is chosen
 The only person whose
behavior we can control is
our own
 We are driven by our genes
to satisfy five basic needs:
 survival
 love and belonging
 power
 freedom
 fun

4. TOTAL BEHAVIOR
 4 components: Acting,
Thinking, Feeling & Physiology
 We have control over acting
and thinking
 We do not have as much
control over feeling and
physiology
 The choices we make in our
thinking and acting affect our
feeling and physiology.

5. GLASSER’S AUTOMOBILE ANALOGY
 Front wheels represent
our thinking & acting
 Back wheels represent
things that come as a
result of front wheels
 Focus on the “front
wheels” & the thoughts
and actions that may
be causing reactions

6. GLASSER’S CONTROL THEORY (1986)
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Seven Caring Habits: Seven Deadly Habits:
 Supporting  Criticizing
 Encouraging  Blaming
 Listening  Complaining
 Accepting  Nagging
 Respecting  Threatening
 Negotiating Differences  Punishing
 Bribing or rewarding to
control

7. REALITY THERAPY
MISBEHAVING STUDENTS
To avoid past • Glasser believes in
actions… natural consequences in
 Encourage students to
positive & negative
respond to what they are situations
doing.  Teacher interference of
 What need they are filling nature is letting students
by doing it. “off the hook” from
 And what they are going to natural consequence
do to correct the behavior.  Punishment does not
allow students to take
• Students take responsibility.
responsibility for
their own actions.

8. THE GLASSER MODEL OF DISCIPLINE
Two Main Focuses:
1. To provide a classroom environment and curriculum
which motives students and reduces inappropriate
behaviors by meeting students basic needs for:
-belonging
-power
-fun
-freedom
2. Helping students make appropriate behavioral
choices that lead ultimately to personal success.

9. WHAT TEACHERS SHOULD DO
1 . S t re s s S t u de nt Re s p o ns ibilit y:
s t ude n t s m us t l i ve w i t h t h e c h o i c es
t h ey m a ke a n d t h e re s po n sibilit y
fo r t h e i r ow n be h av i or m us t be ke pt
i n t h e fo re fro n t
2 . E s t ablis h r u l e s t h a t l e a d to
s u c c es s: rul e s s h o ul d be :
a) E s t a blished by te a c h e r s a n d
s t ude n t s to g et h e r
b ) Ado pte d to a g e , a bi l it y, a n d ot h e r
re a l it ies o f t h e s t ude n t
c ) M us t be re i n fo rc e t h e ba s i c i de a
t h a t s t ude n t s a re i n s c h o ol to s t udy
a n d l e a rn
3 . Ac c ep t N O E x c us es :
4 . C a ll fo r Va lue J u d g me nt: i f a
s t ude n t ex h i bi t s i n a ppro pri a te
be h av ior, te a c h e r s s h o ul d h ave
t h e m j udg e t h e va l ue o f be h av i or.

10. WHAT TEACHERS SHOULD DO (CONT.)
5 . S u g g es t S u i t a ble A l te rnat ive to
b e h avio r: i f a m i s beh aving s t ude n t
h a s t ro ubl e t h i n k ing o f a m o re
a ppro pri a te be h av ior to e n g a g e i n ,
t h e te a c h e r s h o ul d s ug g e st
a l te rn ate be h av i or s fo r t h e m to
c h o o se.
6 . I nvo ke r e a s o nable c o n s eque nc es :
us e a de s i ra ble c o n s e quen ce i f
s t ude n t c h o o s es a g o o d be h av i or
a n d us e a n un de s i ra ble
co n s eque nce i f s tude n t c h o o ses a
po o r be h av i or
7 . B e Pe r s is te nt: to i m pl an t t h e
c o m mit men t to c h o o s e g o o d
be h av ior s i n t h e m i n ds o f s t ude n t s ,
te a c h er s m us t be c o n s i sten t .
8 . C a r r y o u t C o n t in ual Rev iew s:
c l a ssro om m e et i n g i s key to t h e
i m pleme ntation o f a g o o d s y s te m
o f di s c i pline.

11. THE CLASS MEETING
Confronting students
about their behaviors
 Students and teacher sit in a
circle
 Teacher leads the class (3
ways)
 Open ended
 Educational
 Diagnostic and Problem Solving
 Students confront each other
about problems in a calm and
mature manner
 End of meeting a plan is in
place that is agreed upon by all
involved (contract)

12. BIBLIOGRAPHY
“ D r. W i l l i a m G l a s s e r P re s e nt s to M SE C o m m u ni ty ”. 30 Ap r i l 2008 . D avi d O. M c Kay
Sc h o o l o f Ed u cat io n - The N ews htt p ://e ducati on.byu.e du/n ews/ 2008/04/ 30/dr -
wi l l i a m - gl asse r - pre s e nts - to- ms e - com mu nity/
“ T h e G l a s s e r Ap p ro ach ”. 2010. T h e W i l l i a m G l a s s e r I n st i tute .
htt p :/ /wgl ass e r.com/ the - glas se r -ap proac h/c hoic e - the or y
“ C h o ic e T h e o r y ”. 26 N ove m b e r 2012. W i k i p e d i a - The Fre e E n c yc l o pe d ia .
htt p :/ /e n.wi ki pe di a.org /wi ki / Choi ce _ The or y
B e rge r, V i n c e nt , D r. " Fa m o u s Psyc h ol ogi st:W il l iam G l a s s e r. " N . p ., 2005. We b . 6 D e c .
2012.
htt p :/ /www. psyc hol ogistanywhe re any ti me .co m/ famo us_ psyc hol ogist_ and _ psyc h
o l o g ist s/psyc hol ogi st_fam ous_ wi l l iam _gl ass e r.htm
J o h n An d r u i s. ( n . d.) T h e G l a s s e r M o d e l o f D i s c i p l i ne . Te a c h e r M a tters. Ret r i eve d
12/ 5/ 12 htt p ://www.teac he rm atte rs.com/cl ass room - di sc ipl i ne /m ode l s - of -
d i s c i p li ne / the - glas se r - m ode l .html
T h e D SC Way. ( 26 Au g u st 2011) . C l a s s M e et i n g : a M a n a ge me nt To o l . Ret r i eve d
12/ 5/ 12 htt p :/ /www.youtube .com/ watch? v= - vCdCoV 0JdQ
B i n g I m a ge s .
htt p :/ / www. bi ng.co m/i m age s /se arch? q= te ac he rs+ and+ st ude nts& vi ew= detai l &i d=
C 2576112B B E 2E EA75E 3D 4FE 3E 2792E 2B F0FC608B