How To Apply Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development in The Classroom As A Teacher

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How to Apply Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

in the Classroom as a Teacher
Updated on February 13, 2019
Jennifer Wilber more

Jennifer Wilber works as an ESL instructor, substitute teacher, and freelance writer. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing and English.
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How to Apply Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development in the Classroom as a Teacher
Kohlberg and the Classroom

Understanding Kohlberg's theory of moral development can help you to better understand your students and help you to guide them in their moral
development. Elementary-aged students will typically remain in stages 1-3. Some students may reach the higher stages of moral development more
quickly than their peers, but you can introduce your students to different classroom activities designed to help strengthen their moral character at any age.
Lawrence Kohlberg's six stages of moral development | Source
Understanding Kohlberg’s Theory

Kohlberg’s theory states that moral growth begins early in life and continues in stages throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Kohlberg’s
theory of the six stages of moral development includes three levels of moral reasoning, which are further broken down into six stages. Understanding
Kohlberg’s theory of moral development can help to teachers to guide the moral development of their students in the classroom.
Level 1: Pre-Conventional Morality

Level 1, or Pre-Conventional Morality, typically seen in young children between the ages of 4 and 10 years old. This level consists of stage 1 and stage 2.
Some children may develop from stage 1 to stage 2 more quickly than others, so it is important to take into consideration that some students may develop
at different rates than others in your classroom.
In stage 1 of this level, children tend to obey the rules only to avoid punishment.
In stage 2, a child’s actions are based mainly on consideration for what other people can do for them. They tend to follow rules out of self-interest.
Level 2: Conventional Morality

Children typically reach the level 2, Conventional morality, between ages 10 and 13. Many individuals never move beyond this level in adulthood. This level
includes Stage 3 and Stage 4.
In stage 3, children evaluate morality based on the person’s motives behind their behavior. Children in this stage and can take different circumstances into
account when deciding if an act was moral or not. Children in this stage often want to help others, can judge others’ the intentions, and can begin to
develop their own ideas regarding morality.
At stage 4, individuals become more concerned with respecting authority, maintaining social order, and doing their duty within society. In this stage, one
considers an act morally wrong if it harms others or violates a rule or law.
Level 3: Post-Conventional morality

Students may reach level 3, Post-Conventional morality, by early adolescence or young adulthood, though many individuals never reach this level. You
may have some high school students who have attained this level of moral development, however. Level 3 consists of stage 5 and stage 6.
In stage 5, people begin to value the will of the majority, as well as the well-being of society. Though people at this stage can recognize that there are times
when human need and the law are conflicted, they typically believe that it is better when people follow the law.
By stage 6, people become more concerned with what they personally feel is right, even if it conflicts with the law. At this stage, people act according to
their own internalized standards of morality, even when it contradicts established laws.
Young children understand morality as avoiding punishment for misbehaving. | Source
Kohlberg’s Stage 1 and Early Childhood Education

Most preschool and some kindergarten students are still in the first stage of moral development, according to Kohlberg’s theory. In this stage, it is important
to begin to lay the groundwork to encourage moral behaviors.
In stage 1, young children are primarily motivated to behave appropriately simply to avoid being punished for misbehaving. By understanding this stage of
moral development, teachers can help to guide their student’s moral development by setting a code of conduct for the classroom to encourage good
behavior. For young children who are still in the first stage of moral development, it is important to set clear guidelines for behavior, and clear
consequences for misbehavior. It is important to stay consistent with the code of conduct and punishment system throughout the school year.
For young children, it is important to implement clear punishments, such as loss of privileges, for students who break your classroom rules. This could
include taking away free choice time for students who break the rules.
You can also start to offer rewards for children who follow the rules at this level. As they progress toward stage 2 of level 1, they will become more
motivated to follow the rules if an enticing reward is offered.
Encourage students to work together and help each other to strengthen their moral character. | Source
Kohlberg’s Stage 2 and Early Elementary

By stage 2, young children become more motivated to behave and follow the rules if they are offered a reward for doing so. Implementing a system to
reward elementary students who follow the classroom rules and who exhibit helpful behaviors in the classroom can go a long way in encouraging moral
behavior.
At this stage, children understand that behaviors that are punished are considered “bad,” and that behaviors that are rewarded are considered “good.”
Students also begin to learn that different people have different points of view at this stage. They consider what is best for the individual (themselves) to be
what is right, however, they also begin to see the need for mutual benefit. They begin to learn that others will treat them well if they in turn treat others well.
They begin to see morality in terms of helping others for their own self-interest.
At this stage, it is a good idea to introduce classroom activities that encourage cooperation between students. Games and assignments that require
students to help one another in order to succeed will help students at this stage to further develop their moral reasoning skills.
Older students can be more involved in creating the classroom code of conduct. | Source
Kohlberg’s Stage 3 and Late Elementary/Middle School

Most children reach stage 3 between the ages of 10 and 13. In this stage, children begin to think more about the other people around them. The consider
how their behavior affects other people, and how other people perceive them.
At this stage, you can help to strengthen your students' moral character by allowing them to help you to create a code of conduct for the classroom. This
lets the students be partially responsible for the classroom rules, which they will be expected to follow.
At this stage, students begin to think more about how their actions affect others. They may be less inclined to follow school rules if they can’t see a clear
benefit to following the rules. By allowing students in this stage to have a hand in creating the code of conduct by discussing how different behaviors affect
other students, students will be more willing to follow the rules. At this stage, students may start to become unwilling to blindly follow rules if they don’t
understand the reasoning behind them.
At this stage, it is also important to continue to introduce activities and assignments that encourage students to work together toward a common goal to
further strengthen your students’ moral character.
Older students may begin to reach level 4 by the time they reach the end of middle school or the beginning of high school. Allow ample time for group
projects and activities that give students at different stages of development the opportunity to work together and to learn how their behaviors affects others
in a social context.
Teachers can help to guide the moral development of students by using Kohlberg's six stage model of moral development. | Source
Teachers Can Apply Kohlberg’s Model to Classroom Morality
Kohlberg’s six stage model of moral development is an excellent tool for understanding students at different stages of moral understanding. By
understanding this theory of moral development, teachers can help to guide the moral characters of their students and help them to become the best that
they can be.
Research Sources
classroom.synonym.com/apply-kohlbergs-theory-classroom-7964934.html
living.thebump.com/apply-kohlbergs-theory-moral-development-early-childhood-17750.html
livestrong.com/article/1006869-apply-kohlbergs-theory-moral-development-early-childhood
© 2018 Jennifer Wilber

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How does Kohlberg's theory describe moral development?

What are the three levels of moral reasoning in Kohlberg's theory?

Social-Emotional Learning - SEL

Learn with Responsive Classroom a student-centered approach to teaching and

How to Apply Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Jennifer Wilber more

Kohlberg and the Classroom

Lawrence Kohlberg's six stages of moral development | Source

Understanding Kohlberg’s Theory

Level 1: Pre-Conventional Morality

Level 2: Conventional Morality

Level 3: Post-Conventional morality

Young children understand morality as avoiding punishment for misbehaving. | Source

Kohlberg’s Stage 1 and Early Childhood Education

Kohlberg’s Stage 2 and Early Elementary

Kohlberg’s Stage 3 and Late Elementary/Middle School

© 2018 Jennifer Wilber

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