Mendler Allen N. - Power struggles: successful techniques for educators

Copyright 2012 by Solution Tree Press

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Mendler, Allen N.

Power struggles : successful techniques for educators / Allen N. Mendler, Brian D. Mendler. -- 2nd ed.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-935543-20-6 (perfect bound) -- ISBN 978-1-935543-21-3 (library edition) 1. School discipline. 2. Classroom management. 3. Problem children--Behavior modification. 4. Teacher-student relationships. 5. Control (Psychology) I. Mendler, Brian D. II. Title.

LB3011.M43 2012

371.1023--dc23

2011027054

Solution Tree
Jeffrey C. Jones, CEO & President

Solution Tree Press
President: Douglas M. Rife
Publisher: Robert D. Clouse
Vice President of Production: Gretchen Knapp
Managing Production Editor: Caroline Wise
Copy Editor: Rachel Rosolina
Cover and Text Designer: Jenn Taylor

I would like to thank Rick Curwin, my friend, colleague, and frequent coauthor for his helpful suggestions in editing this manuscript. A special thanks to Gretchen Knapp and Rachel Rosolina at Solution Tree for their in-house editing. I want to thank the wonderful folks at the Teacher Learning Center for their support and collegiality: consultants Willeta Corbett, Jerry Evanski, and Colleen and David Zawadzki; program manager Jon Crabbe; and office staff Allison and Erin. My wife and fellow educator, Barbara Mendler, has always been a wonderful sounding board and frequent adviser. Her its about the kids philosophy has helped many educators and has always influenced my work. I also want to acknowledge my three extraordinary childrenJason, Brian, and Lisaand their significant othersTicia, Renee, and Zach. I am extremely proud of you, as you each are making the world a better place for those who are less fortunate. It has been particularly special to collaborate professionally with my son Brian on this book and several other projects. It is not every father who has the opportunity to watch his child take his lifes work to a whole new level. You are doing that in your own way. Finally, my grandchildren Ava, Caleb, and Megan: I thank you for the unconditional love you give your Papa. It is hard to find the words to describe the endless joy I feel when I am around you.

Allen N. Mendler

Thanks to the following educators who continue to utilize our work on a daily basis. We appreciate the support and continue to be amazed at the dedication you show your students on a daily basis.

Amy Allega
ELA and Social Studies Teacher
Cleveland, OH

Pat Billone
Fourth-Grade Teacher
Greece, NY

Julee Boeshart
Director of Curriculum
Bellevue, NE

Brenda Boyd
Welch, WV

Stacey Braley
School Counselor
Holley, NY

Carolyn Campbell
Special Education Teacher
Rochester, NY

Sandra Carroll
High School Teacher
Holley, NY

Tom Chaffins
Supervisor of Secondary Education
Princeton, WV

Sue Cory
Principal
Holley, NY

Michael Costa
Physical Education Teacher
Rochester, NY

Stephen Eagles
Junior Principal
Sao Paulo, Brazil

Joe Eno
Dropout Prevention Coordinator
Smithfield, NC

Jessica Evans
Special Education Teacher
Buffalo, NY

Carolyn Falin
Assistant Superintendent
Welch, WV

Martin Garza
Principal
Houston, TX

Marcus Hartel
Special Education Teacher
Penfield, NY

Brian P. Heffron
High School English Teacher
Romulus, NY

Michele Heiderman
Special Education Teacher
Akron, NY

Anne Marie Holland
Special Education Teacher
Lyndonville, NY

Jennifer Hopkins
High School English Teacher
Eaton, OH

Jessica Humphrey
Intervention Specialist
Cleveland, OH

TroyAnne Huntington
Special Education Teacher
Franklinville, NY

Jennifer James
Second-Grade Teacher
Cleveland, OH

Carolyn Jarvis
Behavioral Specialist
Barre, VT

Ann Kelly
12:1:1 Grades 1 and 2
Utica, NY

Janice Klinzing
12:1:1
Medina, NY

Jim MacKinnon
Staff Development Specialist
Dorval, Quebec, Canada

Kerry Macko
Assistant Principal
Henrietta, NY

Sheila Madore
Spanish Teacher
Akron, NY

Mike Marra
Seventh-Grade Teacher
Syracuse, NY

Holly Martin
Special Education Improvement Specialist
LeRoy, NY

Rae Lynn McCarthy
Special Education Improvement Specialist
LeRoy, NY

Marcy Prado Cuevas
JR. HS SPED
Santa Rosa, TX

Marcie Richmond
Director of Special Education
Olean, NY

Karri Schiavone
Director of Special Programs
Holley, NY

Lori Skelton
Non-District Specialist
Rochester, NY

Sylvia Sklar
McGill University Center for Educational Leadership
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Matt Slavik
Biology Teacher
Jay County, IN

David Triggs
CEO of Academies Enterprise Trust
England

Shelby L. Webster
AIS Reading
Mt. Morris and Wayland, NY

Solution Tree would like to thank the following reviewers:

Jack Decker
Instructional Support Program Coordinator
Lower Macungie Middle School
Emmaus, PA

Jeannette Goins
Social Studies and Science Teacher
Carroll Middle School
Raleigh, NC

Rory Mack
Reading Teacher
East High School
Laramie, WY

Phil Ruetz
Special Education Teacher
Evergreen Elementary School
Casa Grande, AZ

Allen N. Mendler, PhD, has worked extensively with children of all ages in general and special education settings. An experienced educator and school psychologist, he has consulted for many schools, as well as day and residential centers throughout the world, providing training on classroom management, discipline, and best practices for motivating difficult students. His work focuses on developing effective frameworks and strategies for educators, youth professionals, and parents to help youth at risk succeed.

An accomplished author, Allens titles include Motivating Students Who Dont Care; Connecting With Students; What Do I Do When ?; MORE What Do I Do When ?; and Handling Difficult Parents. He coauthored Discipline With Dignity and Discipline With Dignity for Challenging Youth with Richard L. Curwin. His latest video set, The Four Keys to Effective Classroom and Behavior Management, which he developed with Curwin and Brian Mendler, won the 2007 Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award in School/Class Management Technology. In addition to his books and staff development programs, Allen has published articles in Educational Leadership, Reclaiming Children and Youth, and Parenting.

An acclaimed presenter, Allen has presented for such educational organizations as the Teacher Learning Center, Discipline Associates, Phi Delta Kappa, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and Reclaiming Children and Youth. His Discipline With Dignity program was made the official program of the New York State United Teachers. Training and workshops on this program have been provided to tens of thousands of educators in schools throughout North America, Europe, Japan, and Israel.