In this week’s learning resources we learned about two instructional strategies that can be correlated with technology, homework and practice and reinforcing effort. These are only just two of the many instructional strategies that can be implemented effectively with technology in the classroom.
The first instructional strategy is reinforcing effort. In my classroom, all I want is for student to give their best effort in everything they do. If I notice them doing this, they receive praise not just from me, but from other students as well. I have noticed that praise for effort or desired behavior, influences students to continue those behaviors and efforts. Through the reinforcing strategy, students know my expectations and what is acceptable in the classroom.
Last year, my entire school adopted what we call our “40 Eagle Essentials”, which essentially are our school rules. It is a school wide plan, that all teachers including special area teachers (art, music, etc.) use within their classroom. Eagle Essential 18 states that every student is expected to turn in homework Tuesday through Friday of each week. This means homework will be assigned Monday night through Thursday night. In my classroom, I do not give homework to students on topics that we have not covered in class. It is important that the work they take home can be done independently without much help from parents or siblings. I also do not send home but a few questions, because I realize that students are receiving homework from the other teacher. If students do not complete the homework, their consequence is to put their name on the board, which is a warning. In most cases, if students do not have their homework in one class, they usually do not have it in either class. In that case they will receive their name and one check, which means they have to sit at the silent lunch table. By implementing these punishments for actions, the entire school is participating in a form of behaviorism.
There are many instructional strategies implemented in classrooms. These two strategies are examples of how behaviorism is implemented in today’s classroom. When students receive positive reinforcement or consequences for their behavior they learn what is expected of them in the classroom.
Happy blogging until next time!
~Sam R.
Samantha,
ReplyDeleteIt is great that the students praise their peers. Usually, students tend to praise other students for their undesired behavior in class. You are also lucky that you have a school wide program to promote the completion of assignments. I feel that if all the teachers are constant and follow the same procedure, then you will get better results from the students. This also puts pressure on the students to do their work in all their classes, because they know what the consequence will be if they do not. Having the same procedures in all classes reinforces the importance of turning in work. My school has a similar program where the students can receive and be deducted points based on their behavior. At the end of each month, the students with the most positive points receive a dress down day (my school has uniforms). The parents are contacted of the students with a certain number of negative points. This point system motivates the students to do well.
Kayla Shandra
Samantha,
ReplyDeleteIt's great that your school has found success with the program you mentioned. My school started the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) this year. I think we have some mixed results with this so far. One of the issues is teacher buy-in and of course consistency is also another factor. It does tie-in well with the behaviorist approach, of course. What do you attribute the success of this program to? Great post!
--Brett
Hi Kayla and Brett,
ReplyDeleteKayla- My school also wears uniforms and the easiest reward we could ever give students is a dress down day! I really like how your school has students earn points, which holds students accountable for their actions. I am going to mention that to my administration because it seems that some students are not affected by the punishment they get. Hopefully a positive reward will encourage them to have better behavior.
Brett- The success is because of the teacher buy-in. Every teacher (actually staff member including custodial staff) expects students to follow our Eagle Essentials, and students know that. We are trying to teach them responsibility for their own actions, and so far it seems to be working.
Thank you both for your responses!
-Sam R.
Samantha,
ReplyDeleteMy schools point system is actually linked to our gradebook. This way parents can sign on and not only see the students' grades, but also the number of positive and negative points.
Kayla Shandra
I really like seeing schools who reward effort. I believe not only does it work to increase effort but leads to other successes in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe system of "punishing" for homework not completed also seems to be an effective means of modifying the behavior of turning in homework. The most effective part of this is clearly the fact that it is a school wide policy so students are re-enforced on these behaviors frequently, making them even more meaningful.