Behavior Modification Case Study Essay

A behavioral matrix creates the expectations for student behavior in the classroom and school campus. A school wide behavioral matrix lists the school wide expectations for various times, location and transitions. Classroom teacher specific to that classroom creates a classroom behavioral matrix. Both school wide behavioral matrix and classroom matrix should contain the rules that are listed in the school wide expectations. These rules and expectations are displayed as a matrix, which is posted in classrooms, gym, cafeteria, hallway, and bus. According to Knoff (2007), behavioral matrix sets the behavioral expectations expectation within specific settings and contexts for students and hold them accountable. Table 1 reflects dangerous behavioral problems categorized in the Level IV as explained in the 2015-16 Fort Wayne Community Schools Code of Conduct. Part 3 integrates all the results of fourth grade teachers who were asked to choose student behaviors and corrective action from the given list by the intensity levels. As a result, table 3 can be used as a behavioral matrix among the fourth grade teachers to replace negative behaviors with positive behaviors.

Findings from a recent Ofsted report have shown that low-level disruption in the classroom is causing pupils to potentially lose up to one hour of learning each day, and that this may have a detrimental impact on their life chances (Ofsted, 2014). Difficulties managing behavior is a commonly reported source of stress and burnout among teachers, and is resulting in a substantial number leaving the profession within 5 years (Ford et al, 2012). Disruptive behaviour is not only stressful for teachers, but it can be unsettling for pupils, can hinder pupils enjoyment of school and can prevent pupils from fulfilling their potential (Gorard, 2010). Although there has never been a time when all pupils behaved well, all of the time (Viser, 2005), it is important that teachers have a good understanding of the challenges they may face in the classroom, and are equipped with effective strategies to help them manage classroom behaviour. After all, effective behaviour management and discipline in schools is a crucial to ensuring academic success and a positive and safe learning environment (Luisellia et al, 2005).

Behaviourist approach has may strengths to its findings, there has a been a vast amount of experiments from other theorists that support the theory. However, many weaknesses can be highlighted. One is how using rewards or other means to shape behaviour can be argued that the individual is only motivated for these rewards which can encourage a shallow and materialistic style. Another limitation that can be mentioned is that that behaviourist research was widely carried out on animals, for instance Skinner’s rats, Watson’s cats and Pavlov’s dogs. We cannot compare human behaviour to that of an animal. We cannot be 100% certain that humans would act the same way as the animals experimented on (McLeod,2017). As well as this, another criticism states how even though you can change someone’s behaviour in one environment, what happens when the individual goes to a different environment where positive behaviour isn’t reinforced. O’Brien gives an example of if a teacher changed a challenging child’s behaviour at school but then the child went home to the same environment as before, the child would find it increasingly hard to stick to the changed behaviour (O’Brien 2016). I feel that I can relate to this with a child I have in my class. I have managed through positive reinforcement to change his behaviour that he showed in previous classes, however when communicating with his carer it is noted that his previous behaviour is still present in his home environment.

This essay will compare and contrast two theories of behaviour management by Carl Rogers and BF Skinner and argue ways in which one of these theories could be implemented for a particular context and practice. Roger’s theory is based on a humanistic approach, while Skinner’s theory takes a behaviourist approach; each theory has both benefits and shortcomings. Their views form opposite ends of the learning spectrum. These theories will be examined as their respective works address the underlying issue of how children learn to behave.

*Since Week 1 was unsuccessful in going to sleep around that specific goal time I changed my project by pushing my sleep goals back 30 minutes for the remaining 4 weeks.

Behavior Modification, a psychological theory of human behavior. It evolved from the application of experimentally derived principles of learning to the modification of problem behaviors. The theory is based on a psychological model of human behavior that rejects the psychoanalytic or quasi-disease model of mental illness. Approaches to behavior modification assume that abnormal behavior is acquired and maintained in the same manner as normal behavior and can be changed directly through the application of social-learning principles. Assessment procedures focus on describing how an individual behaves, thinks, and feels in specific situations. Treatment methods are derived from the theories and findings of

Operant conditioning is the effects punishment and reinforcement have on behavior; “the law of effect, which states that behaviors associated with good consequences (satisfiers) are more likely to occur again in the future, whereas behaviors associated with bad consequences (annoyers) are less likely to occur again” (Durwin 162). This is a necessary component used by many psychologists and educators to provide the best positive outcome in a child’s behavior. When analyzing the “Billy Scenario,” it is obvious that the teacher, Ms. Allen, tried different techniques of punishment to decrease the students’ misbehavior, but was unsuccessful; leading to an increase in the frequency of response or more disruptive behavior.

It is important for a teacher to challenge disruptive behaviour immediately and consistently. I feel by trying to make lessons enjoyable and providing work that helps students to achieve minimizes disruptive behaviour. The use of good communication by the teacher can also be a useful tool. This includes the use of the voice, phrasing, eye contact and body language. For example, using an assertive tone when making a request or physically positioning yourself near disruptive students.

Students all have their own personalities, which affects their actions within the classroom. Many times, a students’ behavior is caused by outside factors causing them to act out with disruptive behaviors and disciplinary issues. During these times, a teacher must have a behavior management approach to deter similar behaviors in the future. Many first time teachers are unable to handle dealing with the behaviors and leave their jobs making it all the more important to come up with an effective behavior management approach to curtail those worrisome behaviors before it gets to that point (Sugai, 2009). In an effort to thoroughly discuss an efficient behavior management approach, a common disciplinary problem within classroom and the foundation of the issue will be considered. A combination of approaches may be to needed to stop behavioral issues, such as providing motivation and establishing rules and procedures in a clear way will deter behavioral issues. Finally, an in-depth look at the steps needed in order to implement the approach into the classroom.

Many teachers are faced with the difficult task of managing their student’s behavior. Even if we

In an ever-evolving world, it is natural to hold on to historical views of how to manage behaviour within society and the classroom drawing from our own perspectives and childhood experiences. Categorising children as inherently good or bad as a direct response to the behaviour they display is viewed with a certain sense of bias when bound by what is deemed normal and acceptable from an educator’s own viewpoint. In response to the view stated by Bulotsky-Shearer, Dominguez & Bell’s (2012, p. 421) where “the evidence is unequivocal – children who have difficulty regulating their emotions, paying attention, initiating peer interactions and sustaining engagement in learning tasks are at risk for school difficulties”, this paper will take a behavioural theory based view to understanding some of the behaviours children exhibit. It will view how a child’s behaviours present themselves within in a socio-cultural construct due to influences upon a their life and how behavioural theory only approach to future learning will lead to lapses in a child’s developing learning skills.

To refresh everyone’s memory of my primary teaching philosophy. Since my main focus is on behaviorism, I thought I would focus on behaviorism solely, as not to overload this exercise and not to tax my peers, (and I hope I can call you my peers), any more than necessary. As you may know behaviorism deals with the consequences of positive and negative behavior. Behaviors can be rewards or punishment. As I stated in last week’s exercise, reward can consist of praise, token rewards like stickers, treats, food. Punishment can consist of no breaks, extra duties after class, detention, and taking away items. As I stated earlier, I am more of a positive approach to behaviorism. Positive tokens are more effective than negative approaches. In only

The Behavioural approach (also called the learning theory) focuses on the belief that our environment, e.g. people, experiences and learning, influences the development and behaviour of an individual whilst thinking the internal functions, such as thoughts and cognition, are impossible to observe, so they are not apart of the scientific approach to psychology. This theory is also based on the concept of ‘explaining behaviour through observation. Behaviourists assume individuals are born as a blank state (tabula rasa), meaning they do not think biology and cognitive functions influence our behaviour, only our environment does. A large idea that the theory hold is that behaviour can be broken down into stimulus-response units. Stimuli are anything environmental that triggers an individuals’ senses, for example, a student being asked to complete an assignment (stimulus) would respond by completing the assignment. Stimulus-response theories form the basis of classical or operant conditioning, which suggests animals and humans can learn through the relation of a response to any certain stimuli.

Disruptive behaviors are conditions that can have a great influence in the teaching environment. Disruptive behaviors unswervingly hinder the ability of the teacher or the capability of a learner to benefit from their classroom experiences. Students attend schools with hopes of being productive citizens of society. I like to think of students as future leaders of tomorrow! For the most part, students attend school because it is the law. A learning environment should have actively engaged students, who are eager to participate and show knowledge is being acquired on a daily basis. However, some students are bored and disengaged with academic struggles, due to non-active lessons. Certain life factors such as family problems, financial difficulties are all factors that distract and contribute to students disruptive behaviors. One of the most detrimental settings for a teacher in a class is classroom management. Classroom management is defined as being "the methods and strategies an educator uses to maintain a classroom environment that is conducive to student success and learning" (McCreary, 2011). Disorderly student conduct is unfavorable to the entire academic process because they impede with the learning process of other classmates and cause teachers not to be able to instruct teachers most effectively.

When implementing a discipline program, it is important that a teacher identify the difference between misbehavior and off task behavior. Misbehavior is a more serious action and should be treated accordingly. Misbehavior includes actions that are pre-meditated, habitual, unsafe, or demeaning. Off-task behavior includes actions like, talking out of turn or with other students, doing activities other than what the teacher has assigned, and lack of following instructions. While both types of behavior cause unwanted classroom distraction and should not be tolerated, there is an important difference between the two that must be identified. In the case of off-task behavior, the strategy to guide the student back on-task may require imposing a consequence as well as making an adjustment to the classroom management plan in order to re-route the student. In the case of misbehavior, imposing a consequence along with the addition of recruiting support from parents or administration may be needed to retrain the behavior.(Ross, 2009)