Challenges

Think about the most challenging situation regarding rules and procedures that you have encountered to date. Descibe the situation and your initial response. How did your students react? Did your response result in the intended change of behavior(s)? Think about another possible reponse to this situation. How might things have been different?

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Permalink Reply by Rebecca on October 22, 2007 at 11:14am

As a learning behavior specialist, I am constantly moving around, going to the different core classes. One of the most challenging situations that I have encountered and witnessed within the various classes would have to be getting the students to not talk as much and to listen more. I am always going throughout the classroom redirecting many of the students who are off task. Once I have redirected them, they are pretty good at listening for the rest of the class time, though there are times that I have to remind them of their behavior.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Collins on October 23, 2007 at 5:24pm

Probably one of the most challenging situations regarding rules and procedures in 3rd-5th grade physical education would be transition and lining up. There is a considerable amount of movement in PE, therefore, many transitions throughout the class time. It was especially difficult for the 3rd grade students to move up one spot in their lines/squads. When I told them to scoot up one spot they all moved forward and completely were on top of one another. They could not get the idea of moving up just one spot. The first person in each squad would move to the back. So I had to have them look at the person in front and concentrate on the spot and move all at once to the "spot." Then I had stations that moved clockwise around the gym. Getting them into groups was somewhat difficult and going to the next station was somewhat difficult also. I had signs up with numbers for each station and arrows pointing which way to go. If I just said, "move to you next station" there would be confusion. I had to tell each individual group which station to move to next. So the signs helped a great deal with the students moving to the correct station. The students need constant instruction I've come to realize so we just take things slowly and make sure each student understands where to go at all times.

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Permalink Reply by kathy on November 8, 2007 at 8:33am

I am an Learning Specialist so we do not have a classroom per say so my challenge has been with finding the time to help each student on my caseload. I will ask them to come to my office during advisory and if they forget then I have to go find them. It is not hard but when you only have 20 minutes and have to go get 5 students from different classrooms then there is no time left to do the work planned. So my challenge is when to work on various things with the students.

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Permalink Reply by Media Mary on November 28, 2007 at 8:43am

One challenge I faced in the Media Center earlier this year was students RUNNING to get books when they came into the library. This was a problem, as kids were being knocked down, and the rush mentality had students selecting books carelessly (then being disappointed with their choices).

I slowed this down by having students sit at the tables first. At this time I would do a quick book talk or some kind of other update about holidays or school special events. Finally, I put large stars that were different colors on the center of all of the library tables and covered them in contact paper. Students are now called one table at a time (Red Star table, Green Star Table, etc.) to go and make careful book selections. (I have all of the students out of their seats and ALL looking within a minute, but staggering the kids into small groups eliminates the racing.)

The change in procedure did change the behavior. Students liked having a color group for library. They slowed down and knew that they had to be sitting quietly and ready for book check out before they would get called.

Another response to this situation would be gathering together at the story carpet first and then dismissing students one at a time to go to look for books. I really think with this plan it would take longer to get kids started and there would be a large amount of wasted time. Also kids would then jockey for position on the story rug and still not have a specific place to go.