Over on Smart Classroom Management, the site where he presents tips based on his book, Michael Linsin offers three reasons for not using behavior contracts. After a brief introduction that is generally pretty accurate, he argues that (a) “behavior contracts label students,” (b) “external rewards are short term,” and (c) “follow through is a bear.” He recommends employing a consistent behavior management plan for classrooms and adhering to it faithfully.
I certainly agree with the recommendation that teachers adopt and faithfully execute a carefully conceived and evidence-based classroom management plan, but I disagree with Mr. Linsin’s rejection of use of behavior contracts both because I think that contracts may be a component of a comprehensive management plan and because I think the objections he raises are specious.
Continue reading ‘Behavior contracts that work’
The Scott Center at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne (FL, US) will host its second annual conference on Autism 6 November 2009. The theme for this year is “Power and Potential of Communication,” and the featured speakers includ Mark Sundberg, Jim Carr, and Bridget Taylor.
Link to the conference Website and to the Scott Center.
For those who are interested in preventing school violence, here’s a reminder of a resource that I expect will be generating more and more helpful products in the coming years: the Consortium To Prevent School Violence (CPSV).
The Consortium to Prevent School Violence (CPSV) seeks to promote the effective implementation of school violence prevention practices that are:
- Based in high-quality scientific research
- Proven to prevent and reduce school violence
Following the school shootings of Fall 2006, a group of 20 researchers and practitioners in the field of school violence prevention collaborated on the creation of a position statement on the school shootings. In the process, it became apparent that an alliance of researchers and practitioners in school violence prevention to further the common goal of reducing school violence would be highly valuable
Although some of the recommendations are pretty generic (i.e., do not offer specific directions or procedures for implementation), the project is moving in potentially valuable directions. There is a strong emphasis on research and empirical evidence.
Link to the CSPV site.
Over at Teaching All Students, Patrick Black has a post about using an iPod Touch (an iPhone would work, too) as a data collection device. He’s simply (but sensibly) coordinated publicly available resources in a way that permits data entry, recording, and communication. Take a look by following this link.
Over on Docere est Discere, G. Broaddus has a post about an in-service session that, from his well-written report, appears to have made a lot of sense. Here’s a snippet from his introductory paragraph:
We had Indiana State University (at Terre Haute) professor Todd Whitaker giving us a presentation entitled “What Great Teachers Do Differently,” and it was humorous, insightful, and engaging (and many other attributes would be appropriate). Whitaker is the author of several books, one of which shares the title of the presentation with the subtitle “Fourteen Things That Matter Most”; appropriately, we were given a list of these fourteen things, but Whitaker could only cover some of them in the four hours or so we would be there.
Mr. Broaddus, who apparently is documenting his experiences during he time he is completing student teaching, gives specific examples of points made by Professor Whitaker. Among them are factors in classroom management that have appeared here (e.g., use praise; manage one’s own behavior). I’ll be checking into Professor Whitaker’s books, and I’ll revisit Mr. Broaddus’ blog.
Link to the entry on Docere est Discere.
Over at Intervention Central Jim Wright is publishing lots (and lots!) of useful resources about various teaching matters, including behavior management. Mr. Wright has assembled tips and techniques that go beyond the usual in one very important way: They are expressly based on research!
Intervention Central offers free tools and resources to help school staff and parents to promote positive classroom behaviors and foster effective learning for all children and youth. The site was created by Jim Wright, a school psychologist and school administrator from Central New York.
Visit to check out newly posted academic and behavioral intervention strategies, download publications on effective teaching practices, and use tools that streamline classroom assessment and intervention.
Continue reading ‘Jim Wright’s resources’
