Personal Family Model It’s all about feelings. Summerhill A.S. Neill “You can lead a student to curriculum, but you can’t make him learn” Learning.

Personal Family ModelPersonal Family Model

It’s all about feelingsIt’s all about feelings

Summerhill Summerhill

A.S. NeillA.S. Neill

““You can lead a student to curriculum, but You can lead a student to curriculum, but you can’t make him learn”you can’t make him learn”

Learning is about ChoicesLearning is about Choices

Results of Student ProgressResults of Student Progress

Stresses the nurturing potential of the Stresses the nurturing potential of the learning environment – learning environment – its about feelingsits about feelings – we are incomplete without others– we are incomplete without others

Working in groupsWorking in groups Making decisionMaking decision Dealing with others Dealing with others

Basic Beliefs of Those who Use Basic Beliefs of Those who Use The Personal Family ModelThe Personal Family Model

Positive human relations allow people to Positive human relations allow people to grow – threats are counter productivegrow – threats are counter productive

ISIS “Learning this content is necessary “Learning this content is necessary for you to . . .”for you to . . .”

IS NOT IS NOT “If you don’t learn this “If you don’t learn this

you’ll . . .”you’ll . . .”

Instruction should be based on positive human Instruction should be based on positive human relations – not on concepts of subject matter or relations – not on concepts of subject matter or content – it should nurture not control content – it should nurture not control

ISIS “You will be better because you’ve “You will be better because you’ve learned important information that you’ll learned important information that you’ll need . . .”need . . .”

IS NOT IS NOT “You have to learn this if you want “You have to learn this if you want to to pass this course”pass this course”

Has the potential to increase personal Has the potential to increase personal responsibility in the learning system – responsibility in the learning system – students assume many teacher roles.students assume many teacher roles.

It’s all about choicesIt’s all about choices Either group or individualEither group or individual Student centeredStudent centered Student is responsible for much of the Student is responsible for much of the

learning learning

Increases the comfort level by matching Increases the comfort level by matching the student’ personalities with the level of the student’ personalities with the level of learning required.learning required.

Subject matterSubject matter Level of difficultyLevel of difficulty Group make upGroup make up Level of evaluationLevel of evaluation

Allows students to find new solutions to Allows students to find new solutions to their own problems and problems of their own problems and problems of society.society.

Personalized problem solvingPersonalized problem solving Self actualized learnerSelf actualized learner Evaluation = solutionEvaluation = solution

Mostly nondirective Mostly nondirective Can be directive but students have Can be directive but students have

choices whether or not to be involved.choices whether or not to be involved. Usually small group or individual learningUsually small group or individual learning Teacher is a facilitator or guideTeacher is a facilitator or guide

Stresses personal development – as a Stresses personal development – as a member of a team or individuallymember of a team or individually

It’s all about the individual or team It’s all about the individual or team member. Competition is limited, member. Competition is limited, cooperation is stressed.cooperation is stressed.

Has the potential to help students to Has the potential to help students to reflect on themselves and on societyreflect on themselves and on society

Self reflection based upon learning a Self reflection based upon learning a task – how do I feel about my capabilities task – how do I feel about my capabilities now?now?

How can I improve our world as a result How can I improve our world as a result of what I know?of what I know?

Self evaluation is a long term goalSelf evaluation is a long term goal

It’s all about self actualization. Am I all I It’s all about self actualization. Am I all I can be?can be?

Teachers of this model must view long Teachers of this model must view long term goals to be at least as important as term goals to be at least as important as short term goals.short term goals.

Passing the EOG is not what I’m about Passing the EOG is not what I’m about as a teacher, helping my students grow as a teacher, helping my students grow as individuals is what’s important!as individuals is what’s important!

My goal is to help my students grow and My goal is to help my students grow and develop as human beings; capable of develop as human beings; capable of helping others.helping others.

Leads to greater mental and emotional health Leads to greater mental and emotional health as students work with others as teammates.as students work with others as teammates.

Leads to sympathetic as well as empathetic Leads to sympathetic as well as empathetic feelings toward others. We get to know feelings toward others. We get to know different people who have different ideas.different people who have different ideas.

We learn to help each other.We learn to help each other. We learn to support those less capable.We learn to support those less capable. We all improve by helping those at the bottom.We all improve by helping those at the bottom.

Focus on qualitative thinking such as Focus on qualitative thinking such as creativity and self expression – whether creativity and self expression – whether group or individualgroup or individual

The teacher is a facilitator – students are The teacher is a facilitator – students are responsible and capable of their own responsible and capable of their own learning!learning!

ISIS “I know you can do it, it’s up to you “I know you can do it, it’s up to you to get it done”to get it done”

IS NOTIS NOT “Do this work or I’ll fail you on “Do this work or I’ll fail you on this project”this project”

Success in school – and life for that Success in school – and life for that matter, is based on the extent of teacher matter, is based on the extent of teacher and student sharingand student sharing

““Why don’t we see if we have the Why don’t we see if we have the skills skills to help each other?”to help each other?”

**Teaching should focus on the long term **Teaching should focus on the long term development of individuals not on the development of individuals not on the short term mastery of content**short term mastery of content**

““You’re becoming a self actualized person”You’re becoming a self actualized person”