Hello and welcome to TeacherFocus, the online educator community! Be sure to introduce yourself in the Teacher Lounge!
Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. 07-08-2006, 11:58 PM #1
    believe823
    believe823 is offline
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    2

    After School Programs

    Hi, I'm new here. I'm currently working toward my masters and credential to teach at the elementary level. For the last 2 years i worked for an after school program (at 2 different schools). This year i was offered the position of the Site Director of my current school. My problem is that I want to implement a new behavior plan and schedule. I have some of my students with me over the summer (I'm working the summer camp our program provides). I'm worried that they won't adapt to the new changes I want to implement. i've done a lot of soul searching over the past few weeks because I want to make sure I'm making the best decision. Since this, I really want to change the way I approach the children (i want to be more positive and try to eliminate some of the rewards...last year my behavior management was basically bribary). I don't know how they are going to respond. Do you think I am not being realistic in my thinking? Their expectations are always that they should get something in return for doing something (even things they know they have to do anyway). So I guess my question is can these same children that have known me (known what they can get away with, with me) change their behavior habits if I change my expectations of them? Or am I expecting too much here?

    Thanks for any responses.

    Jennifer
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 07-09-2006, 09:56 PM #2
    Mark
    Mark is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    1,140
    You are not expecting too much. The kids will adapt just fine. They may not like it but that is life. I refuse to use tangible rewards. Bribary is only short term. I hate it. Every year my students ask "what do we get if we do the assignment?"

    Since when did education and behavior expectations turn into Happy Meals from McDonalds? Why does there need to be a prize for doing what you know you should do anyway?

    They will get over it, you just have to be strong and set up the boundries right away. Be firm, and lay down the law.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 07-12-2006, 01:40 PM #3
    Kelley_the_Gardener
    Kelley_the_Gardener is offline
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Oregon
    Posts
    801
    You might want to look at what you are planning, and see if you can balance the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards for good behavior.

    I have always felt very strongly that extrinsic rewards lead to the expectation that you should "get something" for doing the right thing, and that leaves a bad taste.

    Children need to be taught to recognize the intrinsic value, (or not,) in what they do. They don't see it automatically, especially if they are conditioned by a carrot/stick system. Balance is the key here, so that there will be some familiarity, yet you can move them down the path towards the higher goal, leaving more and more "rewards" behind as they begin to experience and discover the true value of self and others.

    Just my 2 cents!
    Kelley

    Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results. -- John Dewey
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« 3rd grade books | calling all K-6 teachers! »

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11