LEE CANTERS

ASSERTIVE
DISCIPLINE
PREPARED BY,
PAVITTHRA A/P ARULCHELVAN
PISMP SEM 5 / JANUARY 2012 / TESL 2
TSL 3109 / TASK 1
921005-05-5112
2012291340072

LEE
CANTER

World - renowned Expert on

Classroom Management

Acclaimed Assertive
Discipline program in
1976

Whats it all about?

Assertive Discipline is a behavior
management system that emphasizes
positive reinforcement
as
the key to students making appropriate choices
regarding classroom behavior
(Canter & Canter 2001)

Firm

Documenting
all
observations

Strong voice

Teach rules
and routines

Responsive

Qualities
of an
Assertive
teacher

Positive
rapport with
pupils

3
Consistent
2 Implement
1 Plan

Canters Underlying
Principles

How about a less effective

Discipline Plan?
Review
Consistent

Implement

Revise

Modify

Routines
Rewards

Rules
A
Discipline
Plan
consists

Consequences

Rules
Listen
carefully
Work quietly
Dont lit
Respect others
No teasing /
name calling

Routines
Raising hand
Lining up by
groups
Attending
assembly
Emergency
drills
On time
Assignment
submissions

Rewards

Praises
Thanking
Stickers
Candy
Points
Extra time
during PT
classes
Extra recess
time
Positive notes
to parents
Special meals
School trip
Certificates

Misbehaviors' Consequences
10
minutes
time out

Warning

5
minutes
time out

Send to
counselor /
principal

Contact
parents

Increases positive
behaviors

Helpful in solving
severe discipline
cases

Strengths
Involves parents
and administration

Works well with

various classroom
management style

Weaknesses
Too much of (ve)
consequences will
stimulate (ve)
behaviors
Weaknesses

Might lead to
hostility caused by
misinterpretation

Pupils may feel

embarrassed

Doesnt deal with

underlying causes
of misbehaviors

What research
says about
implementing
Assertive
Discipline?

Research on Katherines
reflection
To investigate the validity of teacher concerns about implementing the
Assertive Discipline model into classrooms not presently using this
behavior management system, a case study was developed in 2003.
Katherine Johnston (a pseudonym), a student teacher assigned to a firstgrade classroom of 18 students at a rural elementary school, was the
subject of this study. A demographic breakdown of the students in
Katherines assigned classroom showed that there were 10 male and
eight female students; 17 students of European-American descent and
one male student of Mexican-American descent; three learning-disabled
students (two males and one female); four students in the federal free
lunch program; and two students who were retained from the previous
school year.
Source : Two Behavior Management Systems, One Classroom : Can Elementary
Students Adapt? by Mike F. Desiderio and Cathy Mullennix, The Educational Forum ,
Volume 69 , Summer 2005 , pg 383

Results
Reflecting on her successful experiences during student teaching,
Katherine wrote:

I have learned that Assertive Discipline is very

effective when used consistently. I implemented a new
discipline plan, reward system, and class-wide reward
with much success. I feel like these were successful for
several reasons. First of all, my mentor was completely
supportive. Secondly, I was keeping very detailed
documentation. And finally, I was constantly checking
myself for consistency.

Source : Two Behavior Management Systems, One Classroom : Can Elementary

Students Adapt? by Mike F. Desiderio and Cathy Mullennix, The Educational Forum ,
Volume 69 , Summer 2005 , pg 388

Being an Assertive Teacher ..

Say what you mean

and
mean what you say
- Lee Canter

References
Bigley, B. (2011, September 29).
Canter, L. (2010). Lee Canter's Assertive Discipline (4th ed.). Bloomington, IN, United
Stated of America: Solution Tree Press. Retrieved January 26, 2014
Canter, L. (n.d.). Assertive Discipline: More Than Names on the Board and Marbles in a
Jar.
Retrieved
from
campus.dy
c.edu/~drw
altz/FoundLearnTheory
/FLT_readings/Canter.htm
Chiew, G. S. (2005). Classroom Management : Creating Positive Learning Environment
(2nd ed.). Jurong, Singapore: Prentice Hall Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd. Retrieved
January 17, 2014
Desiderio, M. F., & Mullennix, C. (2005). Two Behavior Management Systems, One
Classroom: Can Elementary Students Adapt? The Educational Forum, 69, 383-391.
Retrieved February 17, 2014, from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED288875.pdf
Khine, M. S. (2004). Teaching and Classroom Management : an Asian perspective. (A.
Lourdusamy, Q. Choon Lang, & F. W. Angela, Eds.) First Lok Yang Road, Singapore:
Prentice Hall Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd. Retrieved January 17, 2014
Rodriguez, N. (n.d.). Research Paper : Lee Canter's Assertive Discipline.

Thank You