Applying Classroom Rules and Procedures
Reinforcement is basically used to motivate an individual to
engage in desired behavior again and again, positive reinforcement is a very
effective tool that a teacher can use in the classroom to motivate the students
to behave well and to make good choices that will have an impact on the
student’s life be it at school or outside the classroom. Positive reinforcement
implies that an individual student should be rewarded or has positive
consequences for making good choices and adhering to class rules and
procedures.
“The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than
the amount.”
-B. F. Skinner
Similarly when students do not follow rules and procedures
they should have to face negative consequences. Consequences should not be
considered as punishment, as again it is used to bring an increase in desired
behavior.
To be effective all classroom rules and procedures need to
have positive and negative consequences, in fact reinforcement whether positive
or negative teaches students to take responsibility for their actions.
Therefore teachers should carefully plan their reinforcement strategies so that
they are successful in promoting positive behaviors in their students.
In my blog I will discuss when and how I will use positive
and negative reinforcement strategies for students who are following the rules
and procedures in class as well as for those students who are not adhering to
class rules and procedure.
Using Positive
Reinforcement For Students Who Are Following Rules and Procedures:
The main purpose of positive reinforcement is to motivate
students to continue desirable behavior; therefore the reinforcement technique
applied by the teacher should be one that reinforces positive behavior and for
that the teacher should be aware of what will be motivating for her students,
what might work for elementary or primary group of students may not work for
middle school or high school group of students. According to Good and Brophy,
“If you reward people for things they are already doing by their own volition,
then they will begin to decrease their intrinsic motivation. Additionally if students’ attention
becomes focused on external rewards as opposed to tasks in which they are
engaged, their performance begins to diminish.” So we can say that the
reinforcements to be applied should be well thought out by the teacher to get
maximum results.
As I will be teaching the primary age group of children,
therefore I will plan my positive reinforcement strategies to match the needs
of those students. One of the strategies that I plan to applying is the use of
verbal and non-verbal acknowledgement of adherence to rules and procedures, for
instance non-verbal acknowledgement would be the smiling or nodding of head in
approval, when a students raise their hands to answer a question rather tan
shouting it out. Verbal cues would include thanking the students for following
or respecting rules, sometimes I think it might be a good idea to call the
students home and acknowledge his/her positive behavior, this strategy may be
particularly helpful in cases of students who have had trouble adhering to
rules and procedures in the past.
Using tangible recognition is a great way for reinforcing
good behavior with the primary age students, the use of merit points is
particularly effective, while doing my research I liked the program Class Dojo,
which I think I would like to use with my class, I think the use of the monster
icons would attract students and might motivate them to earn points. Giving out
stickers to students in acknowledgement of their positive behavior or
performance is also another way that I would like to use in my classroom to
motivate my students to adhere to classroom rules and procedures. I also think
it is important to frequently acknowledge the good behavior of the entire class
with statements like, “ thank you for working so well and quietly today”.
Lastly I think that I will study my students to identify
their interests so that when they perform well or adhere to rules and
procedures I can allow them some time or extra time to do an activity that they
enjoy or have an interest in for instance if a student likes art or drawing I
can allow them extra time for that or allow them extra time on the iPad or
computer center.
Using Appropriate
Consequences When Students Are Not Adhering to Classroom Rules and Procedures:
I feel that the most effective way to deal with students who
are not adhering to classroom rules and procedures is to use consequences,
which requires that a certain privilege or something that is present is taken
away, as a consequence of the undesirable behavior of the student. However it
is of utmost importance that at the beginning of the school year the teacher
should discuss rules and procedures and the consequences of not adhering to
these rules with her students and they should collaboratively establish these
rules and procedures, this will be helpful because as the students themselves
gave an input in making the class rules they will take responsibility for them.
Therefore I would like to talk about the acceptable rules and classroom
procedures and l would like to make a group contract with my students after
that so that everyone is motivated to follow the rules. I will also review or
refer to the rules frequently so that they are continuously reinforced in the
student’s minds and they remember them. I would also like to share the rules
with the parents so I would either send home a copy of the rules or post them
on the class website.
I think it is of utmost importance that a teacher uses
withitness, a teacher should move around the classroom frequently so that the
students are aware of the teacher’s presence.
In my opinion when the student displays initial signs of
lack of adherence to rules and procedures the teacher should initially provide
non-verbal signals, for instance I would continue teaching the lesson and move
closer to the student that is causing the disruption, making eye contact is
also helpful it conveys to the student that the his /her inappropriate behavior
was noticed by the teacher. If the student continues with inappropriate
behavior then I would tap on the student desk or look at the student and shake
my head at the student signally my disapproval. Incase the student still
continues I will tell the student in close proximity to stop and give them an
opportunity to refocus on the lesson. After class I would talk to the student
privately and inform them that their behavior was in violation of the classroom
rules and procedures, I would also give the student an opportunity to explain
his behavior
At times it might be necessary to give students after school
detention or inform the parents of the students inappropriate behavior. At
times overcorrection may be needed for example if one of the students writes on
the desk with markers or crayons he/she will be required to clean not only her
desk but five other desks.
Another strategy that I would use in my class for
misbehavior is to take away merit points and at times I would also use group
consequences, when one students inappropriate behavior will effect the entire
class, for example the recess time for the entire class is cut short, this
strategy is particularly helpful when several students are behaving
inappropriately.
"Teaching's hard! You need different skills: positive reinforcement, keeping students from getting bored, commanding their attention in a certain way." - Bill Gates.
My behavioral decision making process flow chart can be viewed here:
Sources:
J. Marzano, R. (n.d.). The Art and Science of Teaching. Retrieved June 2, 2015, from https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/platform-user-content/prod-copy/get_help_resources/activity_resources/module4/The_Art_and_Science_of_Teaching.pdf
