Covenant Management

Summary

Definition

Checklist

Application/Examples

Note.  The Definition and Checklist sections below are adapted from Schoolwide and Classroom Management:  The Reflective Educator-Leader, by L.A. Froyen and A.M. Iverson, 1999, Upper Saddle River, N.J.:  Prentice-Hall, pp. 221, 243-254.

"Covenant management focuses on the classroom group as a social system that has its own features that teachers have to take into account when managing interpersonal relationships in the classroom" (Froyen & Iverson, 1999).

Problem-solving as a solution to discipline problems:

___ 1. Get involved with the student.

___ 2. Deal with the student’s present behavior.

___ 3. Get the student to make a value judgment about the
           behavior.

___ 4.  Help the student develop a plan to change behavior.

___ 5. Get a commitment from the student to stick to the plan.

___ 6. Do not accept excuses for a failed plan.

___ 7. Do not punish or criticize the student for broken plans.

Reference

Froyen, L. A., & Iverson, A. M. (1999).  Schoolwide and classroom management:  The reflective educator-leader (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Covenant Management

Definition

Covenant management focuses on the classroom group as a social system that has its own features that teachers have to take into account when managing interpersonal relationships in the classroom (Froyen & Iverson, 1999).

Examples

Teacher:  Vicki Oleson

Grade:  6

Vicki Oleson’s student resists working with his peers because he didn’t get to play the role he wanted. The teacher demonstrates Covenant Management in an attempt to solve the discipline problem.  The teacher expresses concern for the student as an individual, trying to build a relationship of trust.  She reviews the process the group used to assign roles, and reaffirms its fairness.  Oleson gives the student an alternative that would allow him to play the role assigned to him in class, and the role that he wanted on his own.  She also prompts him to reflect on the importance of his contribution to the group as a whole.

Teacher:  Nancy Hemphill

Grade: 4-6

Nancy Hemphill uses covenant management as she talks to her students about solving problems that may come up in their groups.  She encourages them to work together to find possible solutions and reinforces the learners’ efforts to work cooperatively.

Hemphill also emphasizes the importance of working together toward achieving a common goal, gives specific praise, and invites students to reflect on their work as a group.

References

Froyen, L. A., & Iverson, A. M. (1999). Schoolwide and classroom management:  

The reflective educator-leader (3^rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.