Haim Ginott:

Discipline through
Congruent
Communication
Jillian Holst

Haim Ginott
1922-1973
Clinical psychologist, child therapist,
parent educator, and author.
Elementary school teacher in Israel in
1947
Immigrated to the United States doctoral
degree in clinical psychology in 1952 at
Columbia University.

Teacher and Child (1971)

Ginott highlighted the critical role of
communication in discipline
Ginott is known for setting the personal,
caring tone that prevails in todays
systems of discipline.

Ginotts Teachings
He reminded teachers that learning always takes place
in the present tense.
-Teachers must not prejudge students or hold
grudges
He pointed out that learning is always a personal matter
to the student.
He believed in harmonious communication
-Communication that is harmonious with students
feelings about situations and themselves.

Congruent Communication
Congruent Communication - addresses
situations, not students character or personality.
Ginott emphasized that teachers at their best,
using congruent communication
do not preach, moralize, impose guilt, or demand
promises.
they confer dignity on their students by treating them as
social equals capable of making good decisions.

Effective teachers:
Effective teachers invite cooperation from
their students
describing the situation and indicating what
needs to be done.

They do not dictate to students or boss

them around
hich are acts that provoke resistance.

I- Message / You- Message

Teachers should use I-messages rather
than you-messages.
I-message, example: I am very upset.
You-message, example: You are being
very rude.
Use laconic language- Laconic means
short and to the point.

Praise
Evaluative praise, example: Good boy
for raising your hand.
Teachers should use appreciative praise
when responding to effort or improvement,
- This is praise in which the teacher
shows appreciation for what the student
has done, without directly evaluating the
students character or talent.

Why Questions
Teachers should avoid asking why
questions when discussing behavior.
- Why questions make students feel
guilty and defensive.

Sane Messages
Sane messages Messages that focus
calmly on what needs to be corrected
without attacking the students character
or personality.

Teacher and Child

As a teacher I have come to the frightening
conclusion that I am the decisive element in the
classroom. It is my personal approach that
creates the climate. It is my daily mood that
makes the weather. As a teacher I possess
tremendous power to make a childs life
miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or
an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or
humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my
response that decides whether a crisis will be
escalated or de-escalated, and a child
humanized or dehumanized. (pg.13)