Choice Theory in New Zealand

This site is Murray High School the first Glasser Quality School High School http://murrayamericanstudies.blogspot.com/

The first Basic Intensive Training in Morrinsville was completed on 22 October.  Bette Blance as a new instructor worked with people from RTLB, schools and a counselling background to undertake the 27 hours of Choice Theory and its applications training. Left to right:  Lea-Anne Sheather, Celia Pickens, Lorraine Millard, Nicola Brown, Kylie Smith and Cassie Cross 

In a Basic Intensive Training in Woodenbong, a tiny settlement just across the border from Queensland we talked about an 'elevator speech' to explain to others about what the participants were doing over four Saturdays.  This is one such elevator speech. What have you lot been up to each Saturday?" "You know how some of our students are showing behaviours that not everyone agrees with don't you? This is jeopardising the school environment and students' education. Well, what we've been doing is professional learning on Choice Theory about meeting needs through positive choices. This means the staff  and our students can be happier because their needs are being met and in turn they are reaching their highest educational outcome."

Do you get asked "What is Choice Theory?"  An elevator speech is that 30 seconds you have when people ask that question. A great elevator speech does four things:  It sets out the problem It sets out the opportunity It sets out how the training is going to solve that in a way that's valuable to customers It inspires the listener How does this sound? We have a world that is beset with violence, break down of families, mentally ill people, jails full to overflowing Learning Choice Theory has an answer to these huge issues.  Even if we were able to eliminate just one of these areas, society would be a better place for everyone.   We teach people that we need to recognise that we can only control ourselves.  The issues are really all about trying to control others.  Violence is trying to control others; break downs in families are the result of one person in the marriage trying to control another.  Mentally ill people are largely people who have

In this classroom the teacher Norah Jennings is working with a small group of learners in Year 6 discussing the Basic Needs. Other students are working independently. 

In January and February 2011 Bob Sullo toured New Zealand to speak with various groups about Choice Theory.  Bob meets with Irene Ogden, Principal of Henderson North School after the Auckland workshop. Bob is keen to return in early 2012 for another tour.  If you are interested in having Bob work with your staff please contact Bette Blance through the WGI-NZ website .

On my first visit to Koraunui School in Stokes Valley I was greeted with this picture on the side of a building for all to see. The children in the school had contributed the painting of these colourful connecting habits.As I walked around the school there was evidence they were being used.

When Judith Brown completed a Basic Week in 2004 she worked with her class with the ideas of a quality classoom.  The students learned about Dr Glasser and his theory.  In a piece of writing they mounted an argument for the Glasser classroom. The following are comments from some of these pieces of writing. We have a Glasser classroom.  This means that we improve in our work.  In my learning I have moved up a lot.  I am proud of what I have done for the last year. I think that we should have Glasser in our classroom.  Firstly because we'll have freedom of choice.  Being able to choose between some things makes learning more enjoyable.   In this class I get along with most of my friends because they don't make fun of people on purpose. I feel our classroom has most of the five basic needs, which means we have everything I think our class has a lot of self discipline and caring in our work and we pay attention to all who are speaking and trying to tell is something. Glasser

Judith Brown attended the Bob Sullo workshops at Peachgrove Intermediate School.

On my last trip to Wilford School I was treated to a quick trip around the classrooms to see what was happening.  To enact the values and the vision, the school has two areas of focus on  Building Learning Power and Choice Theory which are taught throughout the year.  Building Learning Powe r links with Choice Theory and teaches students the competencies or dispositions they need to function successfully in the world. It forms out of  the Learning Culture . The  Inquiry approach is used to teach in a way which is child centred.  The school has three themes a year. The first theme is Systems . Students are studying eco-systems, Marae systems and local council systems. Choice Theory and Building Learning Power are the scaffolding that supports teaching and learning in the school. In every classroom I visited  there was evidence of the Inquiry , Learning Power , Choice Theory or the ideas that Bob Sullo had presented. Photo One:  Liam ( Room 12)  is working on his waka in w