Classroom Management Section 5

Teaching/Discipline Chapter 5

5. Why do you think consistency is the most difficult task for a teacher? Give an example.

Being inconsistent creates confusion for both learner and teacher. Teachers can become so used to responding to every student need that when they are unable to attend to them, the student becomes more and more frustrated until they get what they want/need. Being inconsistent teaches inconsistency in work and learning. An example may be a teacher’s changing the way they conduct a piece every time they rehearse it, thereby creating confusion for the students as to how the teacher really wants it performed.

Learning Activity 9—Question 1

Time is essential in modifying behavior because behaviors cannot be changed overnight. We know from the habits we have that we cannot break them in one try. Reinforcement is also contingent to the amount of time it takes to change behavior. If we delay reinforcement, the behavior may take longer to change because there is no reward for the attempt. If we delay more rewards before administering more rewards after the first reward, students may work and continue to work on modifying their behavior in order to attain said rewards. Material may be learned at a faster rate as well, depending on how we present reinforcement. Motivation could be increased by the anticipation of rewards for learning material well, thus creating the want to learn more (or maybe that’s part of the utopian view of education). The effects of partial reinforcement could possibly be confusion with students and teacher. This also goes along with a reinforcement schedule. Students may tend to expect a schedule for rewards if they are started with one, and could become lax in attempts to modify their behavior if rewards cease. However, if a system of rewards is more random, students may work hard because the potential for reinforcement exists, although they do not know when. Timing is very important in modifying behavior for all these reasons. First of all, changing behavior takes time. Second, it requires some sort of motivation to make students actually want to achieve the goal set out for them.

Handbook for Classroom Management—Section 5

· Apparently, each had something to do with the cause of the argument to which they need to “own up.” I would recommend having them meet to talk it out, with me acting as mediator.

· I would tell her she is not responsible for being harassed. She didn’t do anything to deserve the treatment she did. I would tell her to stand up for herself because she deserves respect just like everyone else, but to do so in a manner not retaliating but in a manner that shows respect to others. She needs to be the bigger person.

· I hope it would be obvious to me that one person did most of the work (having been burned a few too many times myself, and seeing others go through the same thing, I would require peer reviews and/or journals during the projects). However, it can still happen, and I would tell Fiona and Robert that the knowledge gained from actually doing the work would show in later work. I would ask them to be honest about who did what and respect each other’s work, taking responsibility only for their own.

· I would give him tips on how to improve his work and grades by telling him only he is responsible for it. We could work out some study strategies and a schedule or list of priorities to see where his time is being spent. Then he can re-prioritize as necessary to be able to devote more time to his schoolwork.

· Give others a chance to lead the meetings. I like the “two cents” idea, and would consider making David speak last while using it. Perhaps he is the only one who has a problem with the class happenings and no one would agree with him if they spoke first. I could also propose that issues be made known to me privately and the class could vote on whether it really is an issue.

· Have a plan for classroom peace before the next meeting. To resolve this disaster, I would try to emphasize the good points that were made by the class and get back to the real issue. Having students keep journals about the experience to see who was on which side and for what reasons would also help.