Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Behavior
I thought I would do a quick post before Friday... to talk about where I am at. I am doing some exit slips at Holly's suggestion. Overall I see a real response to paws... I did forget to send out a schoolwide bulletin who won.. I did ask for it to be announced on monday but I am not sure it made it. I think I need to acknowledge the winners in my room somewhere or even on a bulletin board. So students see visibly that I am following through with this. Also I had an interesting class w/ one of my target classes. I probably jinxed their behavior by bringing up how good they were doing. The first part of the class I was like wow it has been a long time since I've had "fun" teaching these students. Then it all broke down. A student used the cutting board which is sharp and dangerous. One had a meltdown because someone sat on his coat. Another just couldn't seem to do what I asked. Anyhow, reflecting back I see that I first never should have mentioned how well they were doing. Second I think they needed more specific guidelines about what we were teaching. For most it was a very simple task... but for a few I was speaking another language. It was an interesting day because it wasn't the "usual suspects". I think the "usual" ones have had everyone working with them and they saw that we were all following through. I think they also saw in art class...it was more fun for them when They have (Positive) attention from me. I also acknowledged how well they were doing w/ Paws and with my attention. The "unusual suspects" Are used to flying under the radar because their needs are a bit lower than the ones we were working with before. Their reaction to being asked to take a break in the hall... was way overboard in part because I think they arn't used to it being them who gets in trouble. So that was very interesting. Their classroom teacher said it had been that way since the others behavior has turned. She said they have had needs but the others were soo beyond theirs that they kind of got pushed to the back burner so to speak. Now their needs are really obvious. So interesting day.
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Trisha,
ReplyDeleteGreat personal reflections in your post. I love that you are recognizing what you need to do differently as a teacher just as much as you are reflecting on what's happening with your students' and their odd behaviors! I'm intrigued by the recognition of a "different" group of students that usually "fly under the radar". This is interesting. I'm thinking about some mini-lessons with this group of students focusing on how they can recognize their own behavior and take appropriate action based on school social norms. One strategy that I had to directly teach to my students was "Stop, Think, Make the Right Choice." I spoke to the students about how we can self-monitor our behavior and gave them the strategy of stopping, thinking, and making the right choice. Believe it or not, directly teaching this little self-talk made a difference.
More thoughts about this self-talk.... you posted about how your students reacted to how you have been positive with their improvement of behavior. Continue with this and build on it by telling your students how impressed you've been and how you believe in them as learners and children that know how to make good choices. Then tell them that sometimes we forget to make good choices so the strategy of "Stop, think, make the right choice" is something you'd like to teach them and remind them to use throughout the year. Does this make sense? Just keep noticing what they are doing well and provide them with tools to continue to do well!
ReplyDeleteOkay thank you! I like those suggestions. I think I will even make a poster for that :)! Then I can just point at it without saying a word! I do need to tell them that I am encouraged by their improvement too. I have pulled some individually that have struggled in the past, but I have not told them as a class. Great ideas thanks
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