Tag Archive for 'teachers'

Arts and b mod actually can mix

Published on 2 December 2010 in Classroom management and News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Perhaps it’s just my perception, but I think a lot of people see the arts and behavioral principles as antithetical. That is, one who embraces the arts holds philosophical views that are incompatible with behaviorism. Of course, this is not true, from my point of view, but I’ve suspected that others considered it true.

Even if it is true on average, I came upon another exception to the rule. Over on Diversified ART , Anita Dallar presented a set of recommendations for teachers that incorporates important elements of basic behavior modification principles. Ms. Dallar, who apparently both makes art and teaches art making, posted the article under the title, “Applying Positive Behavior Modification – A Quick Reference for Teachers.” Give it a read!

Sphere: Related Content

GBG implementation grant

Published on 24 November 2010 in Classroom management and News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Here’s a winning story from a little while back. Under the headline “FdL School District receives $500,000 grant,” the Oskkosh (WI, US) Northwestern reported that a local education agency will be using grant funds to implement the venerable Good Behavior Game (GBG) in its classrooms. The leadership of Fond du Lac School District has already adopted a positive behavior support system, and the GBG will fit right into it well. Notably, the Fond du Lac schools folks adopted the GBG before it recently received renewed recognition from the US Top Tier Evidence organization.

The Fond du Lac School District recently was awarded the Prevention Practices in Schools Grant.

The award is for $100,000 a year for five years.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, awarded the grant to allow the district to implement evidence-based prevention practices in schools, according to a school district press release.

The purpose of the program is to prevent aggressive and disruptive behavior among young children in the short term, and prevent antisocial behavior and the use of illicit drugs in the longer term.

The district will be implementing a program called the Good Behavior Game, which is a behavioral classroom management strategy that involves helping children learn how to work together.

Read the full article, “FdL School District receives $500,000 grant.” Learn more about Fond du Lac School District. Check out coverage on Teach Effectively about Top Tier Evidence recognition of the GBG.

Sphere: Related Content

Precision Teaching conference pending

Published on 24 September 2010 in Data collection, Increasing responding, News, Other Sites, Press, Professional development, Research, Self-management, Teaching b mod and Training. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

The 2010 International Precision Teaching Conference will be held in Seattle (WA, US) 4-6 November 2010. Sponsored by the Standard Celeration Society, a group that promotes the use of systematic data collection procedures and objective analysis of instructional practices, the conference promises to have lots of reports that will appeal to readers of Behavior Mod. There will be special rates for students, excellent presentations, lots of chances for interaction with knowledgable folks. Check it out!

Where: Holiday Inn, 211 Dexter Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98109—Hotel Front Desk: 1-206-728-8123 | Hotel Fax: 1-206-728-2779 (Group Reservation Code: Morningside
When: 4-6 November 2010
Registration: See the Celeration.org page pointing to the Paypal form for the registration link!

Sphere: Related Content

Behavior contracts that work

Published on 17 January 2010 in Classroom management, Other Sites, Research and Understanding. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

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’

Sphere: Related Content

News account about classroom management

Published on 15 December 2009 in Classroom management, Need, News, Press and Professional development. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

In “Controlling a classroom isn’t as easy as ABC” Seema Mehta of the Los Angeles (CA, US) Times describes teachers’ struggles and successes with classroom management. She also reports what teachers say are important and unimportant components of management.

Not only does she describe conflicts in the classrooms, but the recommendations she received about management show conflicts, too. She captures this disagreement concisely with this example: “Some teachers, for example, offer rewards for good behavior; others believe that creates a false motivation.”

Here are recommendations I gleened from the teachers in Mr. Mehta’s article:

  • Consistency
  • Follow through
  • Caring
  • Clear behavioral expectations
  • Automatic consequences
  • Address misbehavior quickly and dispassionately
  • Ignore what you learn in teacher education

For the most part, these seem sensible and appropriate. But, they also seem platitudinous and generic. If teachers are served this sort of stuff in teacher education, then I can even agree with the last one.

Instead, we need to teach more operational and evidence-based practices. I hope that’s what I accomplish in my classes. Mayhaps I don’t. Sigh.

Link to “Controlling a classroom isn’t as easy as ABC.”

Sphere: Related Content

Positive-negative ratios

Published on 15 September 2009 in Classroom management, Data collection and Self-management. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Over on The Adventures of Miss Behavior, Enedelia Sanner has a post about getting data on her children’s behavior before introducing interventions. As I suspect is true for most folks, she doesn’t always gather baseline data, even though she’s an informed behavior analyst. In the post she makes some good points about the value of data in informing practice, but there’s another feature of the post to which I want to point.
Continue reading ‘Positive-negative ratios’

Sphere: Related Content

Bad Behavior has blocked 226 access attempts in the last 7 days.

*/goog +1 script added 20110711 */