Addressing Disruptive and Noncompliant Behaviors
1. List three reasons why some students continue to cause problems even when there is a good classroom management plan in place?
They can have stressors outside of class that affect their ability and concentration levels.
They can be considered at risk due to sociological factors (low income, english learner)
They may have a disability or disabilities
2. Discuss at least one benefit and one challenge of intervening early in the acting-out cycle to prevent problem behaviors from escalating.
The biggest benefit to intervening early is you can re-direct the actions or behavior into something appropriate for the classroom before the student gets too agitated. However, the challenge is to recognize the triggers before the behavior or actions have escalated to far.
3.Think back to the Challenge at the beginning of this Module. Ms. Rollison is having trouble with Patrick, who is a model student on some days and is rude and disruptive and refuses to work on others. Unfortunately, she probably does not have enough information to figure out what Patrick’s triggers are. Although not discussed explicitly in the Module, can you think of three methods by which Ms. Rollison could determine his triggers?
It could be negative interactions with a student or teacher
It could be a change in the schedule
It could be a disagreement with a peer, family member or outside source
4.Ms. Rollison is also having trouble with Tameka, who refuses to do any written work. In this case, Ms. Rollison does have enough information to figure out what Tameka’s trigger is. What is it?
I think that Ms. Rollison can determine that written assignments cause Tameka to have trouble. Personally, I would run a test to determine if written assignments cause the behavior but the teacher should be able to determine that written work triggers Tameka’s behavior because she won’t do any written work.
5. Once either Patrick or Tameka enters the Agitation Phase, what would you recommend that Ms. Rollison do? If she doesn’t recognize the Agitation Phase, what would you recommend differently for the Acceleration Phase?
If either student enters the agitation phase it is important that the teacher looks for ways for the student to be redirected to the proper behavior. The teacher could try to get the student to become more actively engaged in the lesson through a question, reading aloud, helping the group with the project etc. If Ms. Rollison can not recognize the agitation phase, during the Acceleration Phase she should redirect the student, wait for a response and if the behavior has not been resolved she should follow up with a consequence.
6. What is the primary reason that teachers are often reluctant to engage in debriefing during the Recovery Phase? Why is it important to debrief in spite of this reluctance?
Debriefing means that you have to address the problem again, explain why it was an issue and give them proper ways to deal with the stress or agitation. It is not a fun task and can potentially cause the behavior to re-occur but is necessary to make sure that the student is aware of the problem. Additionally, you need to help them figure out ways to prevent the behavior by themselves. We need to help the students become personally responsible for their behavior.
Read MoreThe Only Credit Cards You Need in 2017
Credit cards are important and establishing credit early can really benefit you throughout your life. Additionally, the amount of rewards and benefits that credit cards offer really help to maximize the returns on your purchases. Since, I emphasize travel as my main focus for credit rewards the credit cards are geared towards earning miles. However, overall it is more important to focus on rewards for everyday purchases like groceries, gas, travel and food and drinks.
Disclaimer: I am not a credit card turner. I only have 3 credit cards and I only recommend two credit cards for 2017.
Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred –
Chase has been offering incredible benefits for their flagship credit card the Sapphire Reserve (or Preferred). Personally, I own the Chase Sapphire Reserve as my main credit card. I got this one because the 100,000 bonus miles (expired in march – replaced by 50,000 bonus) they were offering as well as the travel benefits. Everyone that travels should purchase this card as it offers travel insurance, reimbursement for lost bags, cancelled flights, access to travel lounges, reimbursement of $300 travel credit, pre-boarding and much more. Yet, one of the best parts of this card is it extends warranties for all items that do not have 2+ year warranties. However, the main drawback is the $450 annual fee but if you minus the $300 travel credit this credit cards fee is really $150 per year.
Bonus – Reserve VS Preferred
The Preferred offers many of the same benefits but cost $95 but does not give access to travel lounges and has no travel credit reimbursement. Also, since you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining with Reserve, compared to 2 with the Preferred card, based on our calculations you’ll need to spend $2,619.05 in a cardmember year in order to come out ahead with Reserve, which breaks out to just $218.25 per month. My recommendation is to go Reserved.
American Express –
American express up their game with their newest cash-back rewards card that offers 3% on groceries, 2% on gas and 1% on every other purchase. Because, groceries and gas are likely to be large expenditures for almost everyone this card essentially pays for itself. I choose to go with the unpaid version because I am not fond of paying credit card fees. However, American Express offers a $95 per year card that offers 6% for groceries, 3% for gas and 1% on everything else. Based on your expenditures and other credit card annual fees you can decide which one works best.
Overall, if I was to choose one credit card, it would be the Chase Reserve as it offers the best benefits for travel. Yet, collectively the Chase Reserve and American Express Cash Back card cover all the majority of my expenditures. Between the cards, they have covered the cost of ownership and have allowed me to use the other card benefits to my delight.
***Please note, proper credit card use comes down to a budget and not overspending. It is smart to be careful and wary of accruing debt but holding off on establishing credit can have long lasting effects on your ability to borrow and get access to these excellent credit card benefits. **
Read MoreTransgender and Gender Identity
I thought the article “Discussing Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Identity and Issues” was a helpful to learning how to address transgender and gender identity issues in the classroom. As a teacher, it is our responsibility to ensure that all our students have a safe learning environment that helps to promote respect and acceptance. In comparison to gender conforming students, students that are transgender or are non-gender conforming typically experience bullying or do not feel safe in a school setting. As teachers, we need to work to educate, inform and create a level of understanding that allows students to make sense of a behavior that they may have not seen. It is normal for humans to question things that are different. We need to give students the proper channels to make sense of the information. As a result, it may make sense for teachers to address gender identity issues in the classroom if it cause misunderstanding or discomfort.
I liked that the article went over the process of speaking to the classroom about transgender and identity issues. Typically, schools, parents and communities have shied away from addressing these issues and were more like to ask students to conform. However, in recent years, society as a whole has become more accepting of the LGBT community. As a result, there has been a push to be accepting of people’s different gender identities. However, many teachers may not have the skills or knowledge of how to address these issues in a public setting. Yet, as teachers, it is our responsibility to be a role model and to model the proper behaviors that allow for a respectful classroom. Hence, we may need to read books, speak with parents and learn more about the LGBT community to learn how to create an inclusive learning environment for all students. Also, it is important to include parents, administration and students to make sure it make sense to address the issue. Every student is different and what is right for one student might not be right for another.
Personally, I believe that this is an issue to worry about if it is affecting the learning environment in the classroom. Humans are typically accepting of others so hopefully it won’t be an issue. However, if it is, I believe that it is important to have conversations that allow students to demystify the behavior and accept it. Overall, I think that this issue can be addressed by stating clearly that a respectful classroom must be maintained for all students. If you promote a respectful classroom for all students then gender identity would fall under the rules of the classroom.
Ultimately, I believe the biggest issue for teachers to deal with is once students go home. Not everyone maintains the same thoughts beliefs on gender identity. If a student watches a peer, family member or role model act or say things negatively about the LGBT community it can create problems. Students mimic their parents, hence, educating parents may be the larger underlying issue when dealing with gender identity issues in the classroom.
How I Learned to Chase Health and Time
It is weird knowing that the majority of people chase a replaceable commodity (money) in exchange for non-replaceable commodities; ie Health and Time. But ultimately, I wish it wasn’t the case. Few people recognize that money is replaceable. For me, this lesson was taught through hardship, with the most prominent message – you can’t take money to the grave. What is the point of collecting more of a resource if you don’t/can’t actually use it? Personally, I view money as a social lubricant that helps me to save time/gain experiences so I can focus on what I love or to maintain/improve my health. My mindset is that increased wealth should not be at the sacrifice of my ethics or health. Additionally, the amount of time spent working should be balanced to allow me to find or pursue my passions. However, time after time I have seen people fall into an unbalanced equation with little reflection, me included. Which has sent me on a journey to beg the question, shouldn’t there be a balance between work, money, time, happiness and family?
Shark tank investor Cuban spoke about the expenses of purchasing his own private plane. In the article, it came down to the equation of time and money. Cuban doesn’t have to worry about food on his table for his family but he does have to worry about being present. How can you be a Dad, husband, brother, son etc. if you’re not there. He alluded to the fact that the jet gave him the ability to improve business relationships but also be present for his family. Furthering his point that his goal in purchasing the jet was not to save money but to save time so that he could send it on his interests. He stated, “We can’t own time!”
Yet, people are conditioned to an equation of time equals money to the point that they sacrifice their time and health. Go to college, get a skills and dedicate yourself to a career can easily be reconstructed to mean go into debt, learn outdated skills and help someone else chase their dream. Careers are made because of this sacrifice and people are paid for it. I work 8 hours and I make X per hour. Yet, the quantity of X is not determined by the amount of time spent but the skill involved with performing the activity. Your skill set is what determines your pay not the amount of time. Hence, you should collect skills that allow you to increase your value while reducing the time spent on the project.
Which brings me back to my point, you chase dollars and I chase time. I chase time not because I do not like money but it is because I recognize the correlation between time and money. Money is a lubricant that allows me access to increased time and health, however my time/health is an equation of my pay. My health and my time are my number one business interest and it should be EVERYONE’S!!! How can I be do my job if I am not healthy enough to DO THE JOB? Or a better (“millennial”) question is why should I do a job if it doesn’t allow me to pursue my interests?
I end with the best piece of advice by Amy Poehler “Treat your Career like a Bad Boyfriend”. Your career will dumb you as soon as you loss value, or they do. They won’t help you chase your dreams but they will force you to focus on theirs. They won’t care if your family is sick, or you missed a soccer game or a friends birthday. They will demean, devalue and degrade your worth. You are the only person that will treat you how you would like to be treated. Learn to treat yourself right and the rest will hopefully fall into place.
Read More