What do you think if the best way to reinforce positive behavior in your classroom? Behavior and reward charts can be useful
in tracking and monitoring a student’s behavior. Would you rely
on a behavior chart or do you believe that there is better way
to reinforce positive behavior?
What other methods for reinforcing positive behavior in your
classroom would you consider?
Verbal positive reinforcement is always beneficial- "I really like the way you helped your friend...". I don't personally think I would rely on a behavior chart because I don't want the students to be discouraged if they maybe went down a behavior card and then they give up the rest of the day. I saw something in a classroom that I really liked actually and seemed to work. The teacher had the kids on classdojo which you could give the students points for anything (and label it, for example 1 point for raising your hand), and also take away points. The teacher had it set up so that when she added a point to a students name, the class would hear an upbeat ding. Likewise, when she deducted a point, the class would hear a lower-toned noise. There were times where she didn't say who was getting a point or losing a point, but the children just heard the noise. Because of this, they would want that to be them so they would make sure that they are doing the right thing too. For example, the teacher would tell the students to put their worksheets away and clear their desks. If she sees that they are taking a while to do so, she will add a point to someone who has done this and is waiting for further instruction. Once the class heard the point added noise, they would do it too to try to get a point themselves because they are unsure who received the point. Likewise with the deduction of points. No one wants points deducted and if they think it was possibly them, they may try to get that point back throughout the day. This seemed like a good idea to me because it kept the students on their toes and it kept them motivated.
ReplyDeleteOne way to reinforce positive behavior in the classroom is to give stickers to students individually at their own desks. I don't personally agree with the behavior chart system. I find that students may feel that they are being shamed for their behavior in a negative way. Also, the chart system may be only effective for short-term purposes, and not so much for long-term purposes. A better option may be to discuss the issue with that student one-on-one outside of the classroom. The progress of the student can come along way if a teacher simply tries to listen and understand. It is so important for students to understand that the teacher is on their side as well. Therefore, both students and teachers can work together to find the best solution to a problem.
ReplyDeleteI think the behavior management techniques I would use in my classroom would vary from class to class. Some classes may need more work with controlling their behaviors while other classes may do just fine without a behavior chart per say.
ReplyDeleteI believe if a teacher can effectively use a behavior chart, they are a great tool to incorporate into a classroom. By this I mean, if a teacher relies too heavily on a behavior chart and is constantly moving children, it may lose its power with students. If a teacher doesn't follow through with the consequences and rewards of the behavior chart, it will also lose its power and students will not pay attention to it.
I have observed many teachers utilize whole-class behavior management techniques such as class tallies or a marble jar. Often times, these were used only to reward the whole class, and hardly ever used as punishment for the class because it is hard to punish the whole class when everyone may not have been in the wrong.
The one behavior management technique I observed that I would love to implement into my class one day is the pom-pom bucket technique. Every student has their own bucket, and every time a student completes all their homework, is on task, working hard, etc. the teacher would give the student a pom-pom to put in their bucket. When a student reached 10 pom-poms, they would be able to pick a prize from the prize box or get a homework pass.
I do not believe in the strength of having a behavior chart within a classroom. I have seen it used positively, negatively, and have just seen it sit there and not be used. I think sometimes teachers use it just to say that they manage behavior in some sort of way in the classroom. I think behavior management is important and should be effective and not something to just say that a strategy is used within the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI think behavior charts discourage children and instill fear in them. You are labeled as green if you were 'good' for the day. You are labeled as red if you were 'bad' for the day. No one wants to be labeled as something that is bad so they behave so that they stay in the green. To me, it just scares the student enough into behaving well and it doesn't seem right that that is the method that is used. Why are we using a method within a classroom that scares students into behaving a certain way?
I think it is important to have rules within your classroom. Actions do have consequences. However, why does Sarah have to know about Billy and how he is behaving within the classroom? I think that should be a private matter and that students shouldn't worry about others behavior but rather their own and how they are doing. I would talk personally with the student about the matter rather than calling them out in front of everyone and having them make a defeated walk of shame over to clip themselves down. I want to encourage my students to be the best version of themselves that they can be, not destroy their confidence by public shaming.
I personally would use a whole class reward system that encourages good behavior within the classroom. This method also encourages team work and focuses on creating a community. Everyone has their role and their part to play and we all come together to work towards a common goal. This teaches them to become functioning members of society that positively add to their environment and where everyone fulfills their part. I think this is a better method of managing class behavior than using a behavior chart.
Sorry that was me! I commented while I was still under a different account but didn't realize!
ReplyDeleteBehavior management techniques is an important aspect to have as a teacher. Positive behavior is crucial to have in a classroom to make the day pass smoothly. Through my observations I have seen a variety of different strategies. Within the class that I am student teaching in, have seen great strategies for reinforcing good behavior. My cooperating teacher has each student on a chart with different color cards; green, yellow, orange, and red. Green is where everyone starts out in the beginning of the day. If a student is acting in a behavior in which they are disruptive or simply just not following directions, the teacher tells them to change their card to yellow. If this behavior continues the teacher then tells them to orange, red is a call home. If the student is improving the teacher will tell them to turn back to green.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher also has a secret student everyday. At the end of the day, the secret student is revealed and that student is able to pick a something they want to so such as sit next to a friend for the day, bring in a stuffed animal, write in pen for the day, where pajamas to school, or bring in show and tell. If the secret students card is on a yellow, orange, or red, they are not able to receive the prize. The card must be on green.
Both of these strategies that are used in the classroom intertwine with each other because the students know that if their card is on yellow, orange, or red and they are the secret student, they will not receive a prize. This motivates the student to keep their behavior in check to stay on green so that if they are the secret student they are allowed to get a prize.
Another strategy that is in the class room is more based on a group. The classroom is set up in rows and each row has a fishbowl, the theme of the class is under the sea. If the teach as a whole is doing well such as listening to instructions the first time they are able to receive a fish egg (a colored pompom) at the end of the month, the team with the most fish eggs gets to eat lunch with the teacher.
I believe that reward our students for your positive behavior is very important, in order for them to recognize how good their behavior was and to not go down hill. In the 1st grade classroom this semester, there is no reward system for positive behavior, if a child was behaving out of line the teacher would just send a note home, but they would not be punished in school. Having no behavior system, made the class a little more out of control and they would constantly chatter to one another while the teacher was teaching a lesson or reading a book to the class. In my opinion the best type of reinforcement for positive behavior is to reward the students in school, such as allowing them to have flexible seating for the day, or allowing them to skip a night of homework. When rewarding a student it allows for them to try their hardest to receive another reward and they will constantly aware of their behavior and try to not act out of line.
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