Reinforcement
My approach to managing consequences is very simple as to me giving rewards and incentives is almost like giving something to get something, and students will catch on to this quickly. With that being said, my approach is simple: students the first day of school through the first week of school co-create our classroom rules and learn and understand our classroom procedures and if they break the rules or procedures a negative consequence will be given. The negative consequences start first with a warning, then a time-out at either a different workplace or complete seat change, then if the rule is broken a third time then the student will receive a letter to take home to be signed stating which rule the student was not following during class after multiple warnings. As stated from the IRIS center, “using the least-intrusive consequence. If the student continues to misbehave, the teacher should administer increasingly intrusive consequences until the misbehavior stops” and “Teachers must teach and implement a hierarchy of consequences”(IRIS, 2022).
A simple check out form letter will be sent home with just facts on what rule and consequence the student received, and I will deliver this by simply walking up to the student handing them the letter and asking them to have it signed and returned and then continuing on with the lesson. If a student continues to misbehave after the third consequence is given, then a parent phone call or office referral will be completed. I will implement the same procedure for all students so they understand that I am consistent with my policy and will remain calm, firm yet respectful and I will link the consequence to the rule, procedure or behavior that is not being followed.
When managing consequences I will act more like a referee enforcing rules and less like a judge mediate disagreements (Linsin, 2013).
The positive consequences for me when students are doing behaviors I will give positive consequences that they enjoy such as passing out materials to the class, special activities or special projects, class celebrations, partner choosing, a smile or nonverbal cues, verbal recognition, secret notes or texts to parents, fun educational games to review material or maybe even a sticker as a reinforcer. Positive consequences will be co-created similar to our classroom rules, and student surveys will assess what rewards/incentives individual students most enjoy.
We will also focus on restorative conversations and have time for students to share with me and have a one-on-one non interrupted moment of conversation when needed for behaviors to be addressed. Overall, my classroom will be fun, creative, enjoyable and exciting yet students will understand that I will implement, enforce and carry out the consequences if rules and procedures are broken.