1. Understanding Classroom Behaviors
Denise Jensen & Marcia Welsh

2. Agenda Classroom behaviors that get in the way of learning.
Why students may behave the way they do.
Strategies to use in the classroom.

3. Activity
Discuss with a partner and write down student behaviors that interfere with learning.

4. Purpose of Behavior
All behavior is telling us something. Every behavior has a purpose, it is goal directed, attempts to meet their needs.
Identifying the goal of behavior
- To understand the purpose
- To reduce possible misinterpretation of a behavior
- To teach alternative behaviors

5. Why Do They Misbehave?
Dreikurs: “Kids misbehave and seek “mistaken goals” when they do not have a sense of belonging or being valued.

6. Goals of Behavior (Dreikers)
Attention Seeking
Avoidance/Inadequacy
Power/Control
Revenge

7. Attention Seeking
Purpose: an attempt to get the recognition they feel they deserve.
Behaviors:
Blurting Out
Refuse to work unless teacher hovers
Ask irrelevant questions or comments

8. Seeking Power or Control
Argue
Contradict
Lie
Refuse to work or follow directions

9. Seeking Revenge Treat others cruelly/bullying
Set themselves up to be punished
Engage in pranks

10. Displaying inadequacy
Passively refuse to participate
Sit silently and don’t engage in instruction
Request to be left alone

11. How to identify the “mistaken goal”
If students: Possible Goal:
Stop behavior, but then Attention
repeat it
Refuse to cooperate, Avoidance/
participate, or interact Inadequacy
Refuse to stop and Power/Control
increase misbehavior
Become hostile/violent Revenge

12. How to identify the “mistaken goal”
If you feel:
Annoyed
Threatened
Hurt
Powerless
The student is probably seeking:
Attention
Power
Revenge
Inadequacy

13. Other Goals of Behavior
Tangible
Food
Object
Activity
Sensory
Stimulation
Sensory Input
Habit

14. ABC’s of Behavior Antecedent – Behavior - Consequence
Classroom Task
Student’s Response
Possible Contributing Factors
Possible Solutions

15. Activity
Discuss in small groups what you believe to be your role and purpose in the classroom?
What goals do you have for yourself and your students?
What barriers are getting in the way of achieving these goals.

16. Strategies

17. Manipulate the learning environment…not the behavior
This is where you have the greatest control and will see inappropriate behaviors diminish…and maybe be extinguished!
We can only control our behaviors, we cannot force anyone to do anything.

18. Set students up for success
Establish routines
Discuss behavior expectations before an activity
Use student input
Use proactive cooperation. Get them in a cooperative mood
Help them respond correctly. Give hints/cues so they are successful in front of their peers

19. So What Do We Do? Help develop a sense of belonging
Create a feeling that they are valued
Develop a “supportive team” spirit

20. Relationship is Key Work to establish a genuine relationship
Provide genuine affirmation
Preserve a student’s dignity, allow them to save face
Don’t take a student’s behavior personally – It’s not about you!
Strive to be patient, fair, firm, and consistent
Accept that you cannot force anyone to do something (you may win the battle, but lose the war)
Keep your sense of humor
Show and expect respect

21. Strategies To Try Attention:
Provide acceptable ways of gaining attention. This may need to be taught!
Make an action plan in which student receives positive attention (greet student, praise student…)
Provide academic supports (peer help, modifications)

22. Power:
Avoid power struggles. Stay out of the “conflict cycle”. Seek solutions, not blame
Involve student in making decisions, choices
Give responsibilities
Use an “I message” followed by a question (I’m hearing you use language that is not school appropriate. Could you restate your opinion in a way that is appropriate?)

23. Examples of “I” messages
You weren’t listening. You’re gonna end up on welfare or flipping burgers!
“I want my students to listen closely so they can learn important things that will help them succeed in life.” (Spell out the specific behaviors that will demonstrate that they are listening. E.g. eyes on the teacher, book open to the correct page, hands free on their desk, etc.)

24. If you use garbage mouth one more time, you’re losing recess.
“I need to hear only school appropriate words. Please try your statement again.”

25. You’re a rude, inconsiderate student.
“I feel bad when students behave in a mean way when I know that there are better ways to express things. How about saying it in a polite way so I won’t be distracted from what you truly want.”

26. What is wrong with this class
What is wrong with this class? Why does it take you forever to open your notebooks? How do you expect to learn anything if you take up half the morning fooling around?
“I get impatient when we don’t get to work promptly. I’m excited about teaching you things that will help you. I like to see all your notebooks opened and everyone ready to begin when the bell rings.”

27. Activity Let’s Give it a try!
You’re out of your chair again!
What’s wrong with you?
You don’t have your assignment done again!
You better start paying attention
You’re late again
What are you doing in the hall again? You’re always trying to find a way to get out of class.
You’re doing it all wrong. Weren’t you paying attention?

28. Revenge Seeking
Provide activities that help students view each other positively
Build a relationship outside the classroom
Expect resistance due to trust issues. Be persistent.

29. Displaying Inadequacy
Offer encouragement and support
Blame the lack of success on curriculum, materials, even the way the lesson was presented, but do not blame the student
Set the student up for success and recognize his/her effort…not grades
Never show frustration…this may reinforce the sense of worthlessness

30. How do we guide students into appropriate behavior?
Rephrase Our Comments: When addressing misbehavior, “delete” from our commentary…
“Why” questions (e.g. “Why did you do that?”)
The word “you” (e.g. “You better stop that.”)
The words “No” and “Don’t”
Lecturing/Nagging/Berating

31. Need a reason for “deleting”?
All of these place blame rather than seek solutions. They make matters worse rather than better!

32. The “Why Questions” Asking “why” really translates into “I gotcha!”
Promotes finding a defense…lying which now gives a new behavior to deal with
Use “why” only when you really can produce concern/caring

33. “You” Attacks, hurts, is condescending, controlling
Fails to solve the problem
Puts them “on stage”
Often leads to more power struggles

34. Remember the Goal! Examples:
You ask a student to open his book and read. He pushes his desk, swears, walks to the other side of the room and yells, “I’m not opening that book.”

35. His Goal: Avoidance/Failure
Why??? He gets bossed around a lot at home. He had a problem before class and he’s upset about something else………….He can’t read

36. Activity
A student finishes his part of the activity ahead of his classmates. He starts drumming his hands on the desk. You ask him to stop, but he continues.
(Identify the student’s possible goal, how you are feeling, and a strategy to address the behavior.)

37. Activity
You ask a disruptive student to leave the room. He does, but on his way out he turns off the lights.
(Identify the student’s possible goal, how you are feeling, and a strategy to address the behavior.)

38. Activity
A student arrives in class wearing his hat. You remind him of the rules but he continues to wear it.
(Identify the student’s possible goal, how you are feeling, and a strategy to address the behavior.)

39. Remembering the Goal! What is the goal for the classroom
Consider the student’s motivation for the behavior
Will traditional interventions (warnings, punishments, exclusion, and orders work or make the situation worse?)

40. What can I do to adjust my behavior right now to meet the goal of the classroom? (offer help, planned ignore, involve the student)
What type of follow-up is needed to teach the student new skills so he/she can learn socially appropriate ways to express himself/herself in the future?

41. Avoiding “No” and “Don’t”
Doesn’t tell kids what behavior you want to see…so it won’t happen
If you want a student to display a behavior, teach it like academic material
Kids hear action words so
“Don’t run” =“ Run”
“Stop yelling” = “Yell”

42. Lecturing About Behavior
Lecturing is nagging and comes across as blah, blah, blah, blah…..
Nagging…causes embarrassment, negative self image, and retaliation

43. Positive Strategies Give clear directions Use a neutral, calm voice
Give yourself and the student time
Use enforceable statements
Use few words
Offer choices
Discipline in private
Tag team
Follow through with consequences

44. A Final Word: Respect! How do we get respect? How do we show respect?
Listen to the student
Show concern for their welfare
Pay attention to them Outside the classroom
Use humor…but avoid sarcasm

45. Recognize effort, not correctness
Point out progress made no matter how small
Believe in their potential

46. Resources Web sites: www.mcspecialeducation.com www.schoolbehavior.com
http//.pbskids.org