Please make a different choice
posted by Sarah @ 10:28 AM
14 Comments
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Previous Posts
- Choose, decide, and pick
- If I were you...
- I don't want to hear any more tattling!
- Stop that noise and sit down.
- Where were you when I explained this?
- You're Late
- How would it change your day if your role were to ...
- I like the way Linda is sitting.
- Check Yourself
- Look at Andrew's Picture
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14 Comments:
The snippet "You decide" reminds me of the computer lab. I sometimes ask the kids to decide their own topic when typing or drawing a picture. It is interesting to see the majority cannot pick a subject. They are waiting to be told what to do. The few that do decide a topic have to check to be sure it is 'okay'. Hopefully the more I leave it up to the child it will help them develop their personal decision-making abilities.
One of my first objectives during the first week of 4th grade is to explain to the students that they are now intermediate students and no longer primary students in which the teachers held their hands in guiding their learning. I let them know that they are now big boys and girls and we do not hold their hands at this level. They must now learn to become independent learners and thinkers. All I need to do is give them the look with my eyes and they immediately understand what choices they need to make and they do follow through most of the time. If I do not set the expectations of my classroom within the first week of school I most likely will not learn to be independent learners at this level. This method worked for the Nuns and I certainly was a witness and participant with those set of eyes.
I can think of a few students at our school who have some behavior challenges. Some are on the mild end, some more severe. I wonder if this simple statement would help if given with consistency? Part of me thinks yes, but part of me thinks it would take time for them to understand that the control lies within...that they actually CAN choose a different behavior.
Letting the kids know that they are "choosing" to behave in some way puts the ball right back in their lap. That's where the responsibility needs to be.
Ditto to all of the above comments. Some folks just take longer to develop self-control and certainly many take a long time to take responsibility for behavior
I have tried out the phrase Check Yourself and determine if you are doing what is expected. It sure is nice to see students assess their own behavior and try and correct it on their own. I think is is a better way of handling talking in the classroom rather than pointing out each individual student.
I have been experiencing similar disruptions in my after school tutoring with students that I am not yet familiar with. I have found that if I tie this statement in with one of the 4 B's and then say "please make a different choice" that I am having more success.
It's a small thing, but I like the please in front of make a different choice. I think that word shows our respect for students, and makes the statement less of a command, again making the child more responsible for the choice they are making.
When I teach at the community college, I have used the tool of walking to and standing close to a student that was disruptive. It usually worked, but I like the idea of talking directly to the student(s) and asking them to Please make a different choice. It will be interesting to see how it works with adult learners.
I always use this with my students! As far as behavior is concerned I want them to understand it is always their choice to have appropriate behavior or understand the consequence they are choosing.....
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There are many times during my day when students are asked to make different choices. Sometimes this works very well in changing the behavior of the student or students. Sometimes it does not work and further support is needed. But in the end taking the softer approach, and talking to the student about making a different or better choice, has helped to avoid larger issues for the students in my class, and for me.
I'm going to try this one because it really puts the responsibility on their shoulders.
I loved this when I read it! The fact that it allows the student to decide is teaching the that they are capable of making their own decisions. So often in elementary school we as educators and the parents are making the decision for these kids and they have no idea how to own their actions! Such a great idea!
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