This is a follow up to a commitment made on my blog post, “Default Setting or Mindful and Intentional?“ Let me know if you like the vlog or if I should just stick to blogging. Challenge yourself to create at least one attainable healthy living goal, make it public, and let me know how you […]
Connected Principals Posts
Next week, I have the privilege of gathering together with educators and school leaders for a Leadership & Learning Conference in Norman, Oklahoma. Guest speakers Jeff Zoul, Jack Berckemeyer, and Christine Handy will be on hand to share best practices. I’m looking forward to circling up with other educators who enjoy being life-long learners. Gearing […]
Read More PMP:Encore079 Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?
I have been reading the “Marc and Angel Hack Life” blog for years, and it always gives me a little mental boost after soaking in some of the ideas. I…
Read More 4 Thoughts to Help You Move Beyond Harsh Self-Criticism
I have been reading the “Marc and Angel Hack Life” blog for years, and it always gives me a little mental boost after soaking in some of the ideas. I don’t agree with everything that is written on there but it often makes me think, and the way they write with an emotional connection is … [Read more…]
Read More 4 Thoughts to Help You Move Beyond Harsh Self-Criticism
Some things I have been thinking about… Sometimes being “thoughtful” is used as a stall tactic not to move forward or grow. We should be thoughtful of all the decisions…
Some things I have been thinking about… Sometimes being “thoughtful” is used as a stall tactic not to move forward or grow. We should be thoughtful of all the decisions that we make (obviously), but that thoughtfulness should be focused in the movement forward. This image created by Demetri Martin shows “success” as not only … [Read more…]
Some things I have been thinking about… Sometimes being “thoughtful” is used as a stall tactic not to move forward or grow. We should be thoughtful of all the decisions that we make (obviously), but that thoughtfulness should be focused in the movement forward. This image created by Demetri Martin shows “success” as not only … [Read more…]
I’ll never forget the semester I transitioned from assistant principal to principal. Even though I had been in school administration for nine years at the time, the move to a new position brought back the old feelings of isolation. I also felt the creep of anxiety I had experienced as a new administrator almost a […]
Read More PMP:140 Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders – Interview with Jen Schwanke
I’ll never forget the semester I transitioned from assistant principal to principal. Even though I had been in school administration for nine years at the time, the move to a new position brought back the old feelings of isolation. I also felt the creep of anxiety I had experienced as a new administrator almost a […]
Read More PMP:140 Strategies and Solutions for New School Leaders – Interview with Jen Schwanke
I wrote this in “The Innovator’s Mindset“: Today, isolation is a choice educators make. Our connectivity and learning opportunities have changed in recent years, and, thankfully, many teachers are taking…
Read More The Importance of Isolation in a Highly Connected World
I wrote this in “The Innovator’s Mindset“: Today, isolation is a choice educators make. Our connectivity and learning opportunities have changed in recent years, and, thankfully, many teachers are taking advantage of those changes to benefit themselves and, more importantly, their students. We have access to information and, equally valuable, to each other. We need … [Read more…]
Read More The Importance of Isolation in a Highly Connected World
My principal bestie (and future co-author) Melinda Miller always shares that October and February are the two worst months of the school year, in fact…she calls them the armpits of the year! (which is both gross and awkwardly appropriate!) I’ve done these Fab Fridays with her for a NUMBER of years and while the activities […]
The post Fab Fridays in February, 2019 appeared first on Technically Yours Teamann.
I fell upon Anatol Rapoport‘s rules of constructive argument and debate and found them compelling: How to compose a successful critical commentary: You should attempt to re-express your target’s position so clearly,…
I fell upon Anatol Rapoport‘s rules of constructive argument and debate and found them compelling: How to compose a successful critical commentary: You should attempt to re-express your target’s position so clearly, vividly, and fairly that your target says, “Thanks, I wish I’d thought of putting it that way.” You should list any points of agreement (especially … [Read more…]
Inspired by a great post by Stacy Hurst, “What is the Difference Between RtI and MTSS” (very informative!), and all the thought-provoking reflective readers who commented, I began to…
I am wrestling with some ideas in my head…bear with me as I try to write to learn. If you have an iPhone, do you remember taking out the manual…
Read More As Technology Becomes Easier to Use, Our Depth of Learning Needs to Continue to Increase
How do you respond when students don’t exhibit the behaviors you would like to see? Do you tell students they need to change? Do you lecture them about responsibility or respect? Do you complain to your colleagues about kids these days? Do you punish or reward?
How effective are those options? Telling doesn’t work. Lectures create distance. Complaining doesn’t empower anyone. And rewards and punishments mostly work only to get compliance and not to build better better behavioral skills.
But what would be an effective response to harmful behaviors?
What can educators do to better address non-learning behaviors?
Teaching behavior is better than just punishing behavior.
Teach the students the new behaviors you want to see.
If they aren’t organized, teach them how to be organized.
If they aren’t respectful, teach them about respect and how to show it.
If they aren’t responsible, teach them new skills to show responsibility.
If they are distracted, teach them how to focus.
Break down any behavior into specific skills and teach your students the steps to successfully exhibit the behaviors.
How to Teach Behavior
1. Know your own expectations for your students. Have a vision for exactly what you expect. Know exactly what you want to see.
2. Communicate your expectations clearly. Be very specific. Over communicate. Explain why the behavior is important. Use stories and examples to make it clear.
3. Build relationships. Students will always learn behavior lessons better from someone that’s trusted and connected.
4. Discuss unwanted behaviors with your students. Don’t tell. Ask questions. Listen. Understand.
5. Give students feedback on how they’re doing. Correct them. Direct them. But most of all, encourage them.
6. Facilitate reflection with your students. Ask them to think about their own behavior and how they are learning and growing. Track progress.
7. Offer a fresh start each day. Don’t bring up previous mistakes except as a teaching opportunity but never to shame or gain the upper hand. Be patient.
8. Always protect the dignity of each child. Don’t lose your cool and say something harmful. Don’t use shame or guilt to motivate.
How would you treat him/her if his/her grandmother were watching?
9. Review. It’s always good to circle back around to important lessons about expectations and how things are going.
What if I don’t have time to teach behavior?
Better question: What if you DON’T take the time to teach behavior? If you don’t teach the behaviors you want to see, you’ll spend much more time correcting issues that might have been prevented. Make sure your expectations are clear.
When you are intentional about teaching the behaviors you want to see, you are being proactive instead of reactive. You don’t just wait until there is a problem. Try to see things from the student’s perspective and anticipate what reminders they might need.
What do you do to be proactive about teaching behaviors in your classroom? Share your strategies by leaving a comment below or responding on Facebook or Twitter.
Related Stories
- Every Interaction Is an Opportunity for Relationship Building
- When Student Behavior Is Like Looking in the Mirror
- 7 Tips for Difficult Conversations with Students
Read More The Importance of Teaching the Behaviors You Want to See
How do you respond when students don’t exhibit the behaviors you would like to see? Do you tell students they need to change? Do you lecture them about responsibility or respect? Do you complain to your colleagues about kids these days? Do you punish or reward?
How effective are those options? Telling doesn’t work. Lectures create distance. Complaining doesn’t empower anyone. And rewards and punishments mostly work only to get compliance and not to build better better behavioral skills.
But what would be an effective response to harmful behaviors?
What can educators do to better address non-learning behaviors?
Teaching behavior is better than just punishing behavior.
Teach the students the new behaviors you want to see.
If they aren’t organized, teach them how to be organized.
If they aren’t respectful, teach them about respect and how to show it.
If they aren’t responsible, teach them new skills to show responsibility.
If they are distracted, teach them how to focus.
Break down any behavior into specific skills and teach your students the steps to successfully exhibit the behaviors.
How to Teach Behavior
1. Know your own expectations for your students. Have a vision for exactly what you expect. Know exactly what you want to see.
2. Communicate your expectations clearly. Be very specific. Over communicate. Explain why the behavior is important. Use stories and examples to make it clear.
3. Build relationships. Students will always learn behavior lessons better from someone that’s trusted and connected.
4. Discuss unwanted behaviors with your students. Don’t tell. Ask questions. Listen. Understand.
5. Give students feedback on how they’re doing. Correct them. Direct them. But most of all, encourage them.
6. Facilitate reflection with your students. Ask them to think about their own behavior and how they are learning and growing. Track progress.
7. Offer a fresh start each day. Don’t bring up previous mistakes except as a teaching opportunity but never to shame or gain the upper hand. Be patient.
8. Always protect the dignity of each child. Don’t lose your cool and say something harmful. Don’t use shame or guilt to motivate.
How would you treat him/her if his/her grandmother were watching?
9. Review. It’s always good to circle back around to important lessons about expectations and how things are going.
What if I don’t have time to teach behavior?
Better question: What if you DON’T take the time to teach behavior? If you don’t teach the behaviors you want to see, you’ll spend much more time correcting issues that might have been prevented. Make sure your expectations are clear.
When you are intentional about teaching the behaviors you want to see, you are being proactive instead of reactive. You don’t just wait until there is a problem. Try to see things from the student’s perspective and anticipate what reminders they might need.
What do you do to be proactive about teaching behaviors in your classroom? Share your strategies by leaving a comment below or responding on Facebook or Twitter.
Related Stories
- Every Interaction Is an Opportunity for Relationship Building
- When Student Behavior Is Like Looking in the Mirror
- 7 Tips for Difficult Conversations with Students
Read More The Importance of Teaching the Behaviors You Want to See
One of the benefits I have of being in education is having an older brother that is heavily involved in the field as well. His feedback to me in the…
Read More 3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Challenging Others