This document discusses the Love and Logic philosophy for dealing with arguments and classroom management. [1] Love and Logic was founded in 1977 and focuses on using logic and empathy when dealing with students. [2] It recommends responding to arguments calmly and enforcing predetermined consequences consistently rather than getting angry. [3] The goal is to make one's classroom a place where students want to be through showing care, allowing expression of feelings, and holding students responsible for their own actions.

1. Love and Logic
By: Leslie Cancino

2. Logic
“Love and Logic is a philosophy founded in 1977 by Jim Fay and Foster W.
Cline, M.D. It is the approach of choice among leading educators, parents,
and other professionals worldwide” (loveandlogic.com, 2012).
To define logic, it is the particular method of reasoning or argumentation.
For example:
I Love You but you can’t come back until you won’t be causing problems for
everyone.
You can only change your own behavior.
-You’ve got to take your time with what you say because your words are golden
-Do what you say!

3. Logic
How To Deal With Arguments!
 Refuse to deal with the content of the argument – go brain dead
 Respond with “I’ll argue with you at 3:45pm” or “I respect you too much to
argue with you” or “I know” or “I love you too much to argue with you”.
If they’re truly hurting they’ll look down and you can see it in their faces, if their
just manipulating you. They’ll look up and have a come back for you.
When students are upset from other classes and want to tell everything that’s
happened respond with:
 You can tell me about that at 3:00pm
 You can write me a note about it and I’ll read it tonight and see what I can do
about it and let you know tomorrow.

4. Logic
Too often when we’re in need of a consequence we can’t really enforce it.
 If your going to say it, you’ve got to enforce it.
Respond with:
 Oh no! This is sad. I’m going to have to do something about this! But not
now…later…try not to worry about.
Plug your holes before you deal with things
 Keep Calm!
Let them know something is going to happen but that you don’t want to embarrass
them in front of their friends:
Tell students:
 “Don’t make a problem for others. If you do I will do something.”

5. Logic
Classroom Rules:
1. Don’t make a problem for others.
Classroom Consequences:
1. Each of you are unique and I will treat each problem uniquely as well.
If we have to run to the principal with each problem – we will have shown the
students that we’ve taken the authority from ourselves.
 Meet with the principal before you take the kid in so you are both on the same
page and you have the ultimate authority.
Tell the student:
“I will talk with the principal about this later and I will let you know what is decided.”
Rule:
If you cause a problem I will ask you to sole it!

6. Logic
If you feel something is unfair, whisper to me and I will listen to you and we’ll find a
time to talk about it.
 There is always a time, a place and a way to talk about things!
 Provide an appropriate way for them to express their thoughts.
What about specific severe situations?
 There should be carved-in-stone rules and consequences
EMPATHY
So for all you students who are upset are frustrated with grades or classes, I need to
remind them I know it’s hard for them, but we still have to accomplish the tasks.
I’ve had too much sympathy for the kids and not enough empathy. I need to
encourage them to complete things successfully and still allow time for them to vent
to me.
 Make your classroom a place that kids don’t want to leave!

7. Logic
 If we don’t give kids the opportunity to say we made a mistake, we put a bad taste in
their mouths and they’ll announce it to everyone.
 I need to work harder to having better empathy for all students.
 Approach problems with humor and compassion and a how are we going to fix
this.
 Empathy opens the love and mind to learning because we show them that we care.
 Quit solving the kids problems and make them take responsibility for their actions.
 Quit thinking “poor baby!” If they’ve earned a consequence they deserve one!
 Don’t sympathize with kids, EMAPTHIZE!
The only way we own the problem is if we have the problem. So we’ve got to ask the
kids “would you like some suggestions?” Give some suggestions that are stupid so
they’ve really got to think about it.
Example:
“What are you going to do about it?”
“What do you want me to do about it?”

8. Logic
You can’t implement with anger! Be empathetic first then
give a consequence!
If you are not empathetic just sarcastic – that upsets people!
If you misuse Love and Logic then everything becomes much
worse!

9. References
www.loveandlogic.com. Retrieved March 22, 2012.