In Mr. Gates classroom, there is a sensory table where the kids are playing with actual coins in the back of the room. This environment allows for them to feel as if they are in control in this area. He is letting the children touch the coins, and observe them. This environment allows for exploration, and for the kids to take it upon themselves to learn about the coins.
Also, in the classroom, there is a behavior baseball chart. This chart has each student's number (alphabetical order) with a pocket on the board, to be able to put things in it. There is a "Single Pocket," a "Double Pocket," a "Triple Pocket," a "Homerun Pocket," and a "Strikes Pocket" all with different colored strips of paper in them (Single - green strips, double - blue strips, triple- blue strips, homerun- purple strips, and strikes - red strips. This behavior board allows for Mr. Gates to provide positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment all in one chart. Each "base" has more rewards, and they can also be taken away. Strikes are given as punishment, and can increase with each one. The ability to have punishment and reinforcement involved is crucial in a behavior chart.
You will also find that in Mr. Gates classroom, he will ignore students who shout out answers without raising their hands. He will then call on someone with their hand up, and appreciate the behavior that is given. He demonstrates praise and ignore in his classroom when in large discussions.
I really liked your ideas! I think the sensory area is awesome because it allows the students to have a more hands-on experience. They could have a real-life encounter with money and do some role plays to take their knowledge of coins a bit further, maybe by buying and selling small erasers or something for a dollar. I also liked the idea of the behavior baseball chart. It's a creative way to provide rewards and seems like a simple method to follow through with all year. I could totally see myself using these techniques in my classroom!
ReplyDeleteI'm having trouble understanding the first two paragraphs in terms of behaviorism. These may be reasonable statements, and you're free to include some of your own opinion, but I need some help in making the connection to theory.
ReplyDeleteI like your chart example and am surprised at how specific all of you are getting in these posts (i'm guessing you've seen something like this before?) It might be helpful to explain a little bit more how each part is an example of each type of stimulus.
I'd like the same for the last piece--how do praise and ignore work according to behaviorism? They happen frequently, but why do they work?