Behaviours that involves physical harm to others, damage to property or perpetuate bullying need one type of attention. The so called lower order issues quite another. It is to those this article addresses itself.
How to manage the soft stuff so behaviour problems dissolve
Zero Tolerance doesn’t work. Or at least there is very little empirical evidence it has any positive impact on learners or their achievement in the short or long run.
Yet schools across the country are emphasising behavioural approaches.
And in the long run it could be causing more harm than good.
The problems with approaches to behaviour management and modification
They focus on observable behaviour (80% is not observable)
Rewards and punishments undermine self-discipline and the intrinsic rewards hard work brings
Evidence on best approaches for turning behaviour management into desirable learning outcomes is paper thin, so there are no reliable methodologies
What works is so often a combination of personality, context and what the child/children bring to the table (nature x nurture) it is very difficult to assimilate.
By establishing a ‘doing to’ culture, more in line with a command and control ethos, we may be undermining initiative and responsibility taking
Studies show that children who are frequently rewarded and praised for caring behaviour tend to be less generous and caring to peers
So what can we do?
Model
Recognise that we are part of the problem as well as the solution.
Dr Bill Rogers – “Managing the Difficult Class”- http://bit.ly/2TAceDz
Paul Dix – http://bit.ly/2XCVpqp
Authentic Engagement
A four part model; Academic, Cognitive, Behavioural (attendance and participation) and psychological
James Appleton
Classroom environment
Safe and purposeful. Clear expectations, instructions, strong guidance and constructive feedback
Edward L Deci – http://bit.ly/2SDf5XG
Relational trust
Use open to learning constructs. These are typified by willingness to take risks and make mistakes in the struggle for learning
Viviane Robinson – “Open to Learning” http://bit.ly/2TtBWct
Sharing authority
Approaches that include learners in democratic and consensual decision-making around rules and codes; bullying, classroom protocols, movement around school, homework
Alfie Khon – http://bit.ly/2HcRYkx
Respect
Placing mutual respect at the centre of policy and privilege.
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