Teaching with Love & Logic: Taking Control of the Classroom [Paperback]

Jim Fay (Author), David Funk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1995 | ISBN-10: 0944634486 | ISBN-13: 978-0944634486 | Edition: 1st

Teachers often find themselves facing a variety of classroom situations never covered in initial training. This valuable resource helps teachers increase skills, enhance professional development and maximize classroom learning time. .Discover why Love and Logic works in the school environment and understand the psychological reasons for its effectiveness. Jim Fay and David Funk's truly positive approach and time-tested ideas and strategies will empower teachers to effectively manage classroom dynamics while bringing the joy back to teaching.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jim Fay has more than 31 years experience as an educator and principal. He is recognized as one of America's top educational consultants and has won many awards in the educational field.David Funk has been involved in education at both public school and university levels since 1969. He has experience as a teacher, administrator, associated professor and conference speaker.

Product Details

• Paperback: 399 pages
• Publisher: Love and Logic Press; 1st edition (1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944634486
• ISBN-13: 978-0944634486
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 1 x 6.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > Education & Reference > Studying & Workbooks > Study Skills
  • #5 in Books > Education & Reference > Schools & Teaching > Education Theory > Reform & Policy
  • #15 in Books > Business & Investing > Reference

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

299 of 302 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Warning to Brand New Teachers December 7, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Be very careful with the advice in this book if you are a brand new and idealistic teacher. You will be drawn to the book because it is full of common sense about how we should treat other human beings, especially children. However, keep in mind that specific, explicit limits, boundaries, and structures should be established first and foremost before you start working with kids on abstract concepts like choices, decisions, problems, and fairness. If you are just beginning the teaching profession, by all means do buy this book, but first buy "The First Days of School" by the Wongs and follow that one to the letter before you begin diving into "Love and Logic." Trust me: if your only rules on the wall are from the Love and Logic list, you will be eaten alive. The Love and Logic poster I was required to hang up in my classroom includes these sentences (among others): "I will treat you with respect so you know how to treat me" and "Feel free to do anything you want as long as it doesn't cause a problem for anyone else" and "If you think I do something unfair, whisper to me 'that's not fair' and we'll talk." Those statements are excellent, but children need to be brought to an understanding of what they mean over and over and over, through clear limits that you firmly set and enforce. Do read the book, as it is an excellent reminder of the ways in which we need to respect and truly care for students, but please keep my words in mind as you decide how you will manage your classroom.

153 of 154 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An easy and sensible approach to discipline that works! June 22, 1999

By Ima Librarian II

Format:Paperback

The beginning part of this book outlines the philosophy of Love and Logic in the classroom. It is presented clearly and logically. The next part deals with a step by step method of implementing in within your own classroom. The final couple chapters are written by teachers/principals who have taken this philosopy of respect and dignity into whole schools. They explain what they did and what the effects were. I have tried this approach in my own classroom and at home with my own kids (Imagine getting kids to do their chores without threats!). The results are startling! Compliance without power struggles; respect without demands; control by giving away control. You will be stunned at how easily it works, how much better of a teacher you will be, and how your kids will respond. (I even have used this when dealing with my colleagues. What fun!)It is not new; it is common sense brought to the front. It is definitely do-able! We are just beginning to adopt this approach schoolwide. I am excited to see how it works. I recommend this book highly to anyone who is frustrated and exhausted from "dealing with students and their mouths" at the end of the day!

170 of 173 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars reduces the stress level for you AND your students April 20, 2001

By ALP

Format:Paperback

Did lthomros read the same book the rest of us read? It actually takes more time & effort from the teacher to use Love and Logic, but it is worth it! LOGICAL consequences presented in LOVING manner helps the child maintain his/her dignity.. it's how most of us would prefer to be treated!

Below, I've taken some statements from the book. If you agree with this philosophy, you will love the book. It works for all ages. This method helps teachers to avoid POWER STRUGGLES with kids and teenagers.

The Three Rules of Love & Logic

1) People Learn from Their Own Decisions

2) Use Enforceable Limits--Provide Choices Within Limits

3) Apply Consequences with Empathy

The Love & Logic techniques:

-Put teachers back in control of the classroom

-Result in students who are internalized in their discipline rather than dependent upon external controls (THEY do the thinking!)

-Raise the level of student responsibility

-Prepare students to function effectively in a world filled with temptations, decisions, and consequences

In conjunction with reading this book, I also took part in workshops about Love and Logic that were offered at my school. The book itself, however, is easy to read and offers lots of examples and practical suggestions.

89 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars New teachers: This could be your best buy! September 22, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I'm in my second year of teaching fifth grade, and have been using L-and-L for about a year. I can't believe it wasn't in my college curriculum because of how simple, rational, and effective the approach is to using. You'll have more success and more fun disciplining your students than you will following any of the more-traditional methods you probably saw used when you were a student. You won't be burdened as heavily with frustrations due to power struggles and unsuccessful punishments. You should also feel pretty good about how this approach builds kids up by empowering them with choices. Furthermore, you don't have to attend a long seminar to make it work. I might sound like I've been paid to write this (and I haven't!), but it's the best buy you can make, and it's an easy, enjoyable read.

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't overdo it July 27, 2005

By S. Wolf

Format:Paperback

It seems to me that people either embrace Love and Logic a little too feverishly or are horrified by it because they grew up in an environment wherein adults are encouraged to bond and communicate with children and believe the L&L strategies to be harsh, cold and manipulative.

There is a happy medium between these two ways of looking at L&L. I was trained in L&L at a seminar (I'm a high school teacher) and I learned that you can sort of "sprinkle" your L&L around. No one thinks you should be this way with your kids every second of the day, but it should be used as a way to discipline children and encourage them to make their own choices. It is also a way to gain control over children, which may sound harsh and cold, but aren't adults supposed to inherently have control over children in order to keep them safe, teach them to be responsible and make their own choices? For the reviewer who finds the methods "cold," I would like to say that I am, without a doubt, a very emotional and loving person. I can see what the reviewer means, but that is something that I realized I had to get over; you cannot command respect by being ONLY a loving, caring, nice person. Sometimes you have to be that brick wall in order to help kids, because the world is full of brick walls and other obstacles that children must learn to face.

As far as putting a pet to sleep because a child forgot to feed it, that is absolutely horrific. I will at least skim the parenting version for that one, because I just can't believe that the people at L&L would condone that sort of sadistic reasoning.

Also, I was under the impression that L&L radically opposed corporal punishment, so I am confused by the reviewer who wrote that it was championed in an L&L book.... I thought the whole goal of L&L was to solve problems and teach kids calmly and respectfully. I am wondering if the reviewer misunderstood something by taking it out of context. Read more ›