Comments on: Changing Behavior in the Classroom https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/ VitalSmarts is now Crucial Learning Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:12:54 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 By: Steve W. https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4848 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 19:12:54 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4848 I like the idea of focusing on a replacement behavior that is visceral and engaging.

]]> By: Julinda https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4847 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 16:20:55 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4847 In reply to Gretchen Crawford.

Gretchen Crawford – Enjoyed reading your comment! And it has some good ideas.

]]> By: Gretchen Crawford https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4846 Thu, 18 Aug 2016 14:22:10 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4846 When I taught a small Sunday School ‘class’ children of varying ages would arrive at different times in differing states of mind. Some would be dropped off early, others a bit later, their parents seeming a bit stressed with the rush to be on time.
Over time a ritual developed that promoted calm and focus: An ever-changing offering of mandalas and crayons to color them ! As the children straggled or were hustled in, they were welcomed by name, and naturally settled in to the task at hand. Talking was never repressed, yet for the most part the children were quiet and focused on their coloring creations. ‘Discipline’ was not an issue in our little class.
Sometimes I would read a story and then let the kids act it out. Once we made paper birds (they colored these as they wished, too) and attached strings to them. When the service upstairs had ended and people came down for coffee hour, the children were ‘flying’ their birds in a large circle around tables spread with the foods of Sunday mornings’ hospitality! The scene was joyous! Children focusing on their birds flight ( they had to use their own movement, a gentle run ) and grown-ups smiling with delight at the unexpected display.
At most 14 children attended at a time. The only time they needed to ‘get in line’ when was we went upstairs to join the service for sharing the peace and communion time.
We started with the centering activity of focused mandala coloring, and went from there to a variety of activities, many of which involved movement, such as play-acting, dancing, and even simple yoga stretches such as the sun salutation.
Lovely memories of a sweet time…

]]> By: Julinda https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4845 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 16:47:52 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4845 In reply to David Hernandez.

I like that.

]]> By: Steve W. https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4844 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 16:15:55 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4844 In reply to Linda H.

I’ve also found that music, and especially getting them to sing, really gets them engaged. It also makes it easier to remember the lesson.

]]> By: Steve W. https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4843 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 16:14:30 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4843 In reply to Julinda.

Nice! It’s made such a difference with my boys.

]]> By: Linda H https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4842 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 15:22:14 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4842 Remember that young children (and probably some execs.) have very short attention spans so plan your lesson with several short (5-10 minute) segments and if your classroom allows, incorporate some type of movement between the sitting down times. Movement such as a song with hand motions or an active game can help teach the lesson since the students are actively participating, not just passively listening or reading. If you want them to memorize a Bible verse, place cards on the floor with each word and have them hop from word to word, saying them out loud. If you want them to understand how different characters from a story are related, play The Farmer in the Dell and change the names. Use their need to move as a learning tool.

]]> By: Julinda https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4841 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 14:22:56 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4841 In reply to Julinda.

I’m replying this so I can check the “Notify me of follow-up comments…” I forgot to check it before!

]]> By: Julinda https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4840 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 13:23:15 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4840 Nice article. I’m involved in Scouting so I liked your reference to Boy Scouts. I will use your suggestions in Cub Scout meetings and Sunday School class. (By the way, with the Cub Scouts – BSA program for grades 1 to 5 – it’s two fingers rather than three, and it gets used a LOT with those kids!)

]]> By: David Hernandez https://cruciallearning.com/blog/changing-behavior-in-the-classroom/#comment-4839 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 11:57:48 +0000 https://www.crucialskills.com/?p=6367#comment-4839 As an educator, I have learned from a teaching company I worked with called Project SEED, Inc., the power of prefacing questions with a mode of response. This technique has allowed me to help modify student behavior while teaching content. An example, “Raise a tall hand up sitting up straight with both feet on the floor if you know what is 8×7?”. This allows the students to know how you want the answer rather than them guessing.

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