Today while observing the classroom, I noticed that the teacher used a lot of reinforcement and punishment in her classroom. The type I saw the most of was positive reinforcement and removal punishment. Throughout the day I constantly heard my CT say if the students were well behaved during Language arts, then they would be rewarded with fifteen extra minutes during recess the next day. This is an example of positive reinforcement. I also heard her say that whoever didn't behave then they had to sit out at recess. This is an example of removal punishment. I believe both of these methods are great to use in the classroom because it seemed to motivate the students to do what they were supposed to do.
Another behavioral system that my CT uses is where the students earn fake money when they display good behavior or help her around the classroom. They can also have their money taken away due to bad behavior. At the end of the week the students have a choice to use their money to buy prizes out of the treasure chest. With this system, almost all of her students show good behavior in order to receive their money. This is a great example of Law of Effect, which states that behaviors that result in good consequences are more likely to occur again, however behaviors that results in bad consequences are less likely to occur again. In this case the good consequence is earning the money to buy prizes and the bad consequence is having their money taken away due to bad behavior. I was able to witness her give the fake money to several of her students.
Another behavioral system that my CT uses is where the students earn fake money when they display good behavior or help her around the classroom. They can also have their money taken away due to bad behavior. At the end of the week the students have a choice to use their money to buy prizes out of the treasure chest. With this system, almost all of her students show good behavior in order to receive their money. This is a great example of Law of Effect, which states that behaviors that result in good consequences are more likely to occur again, however behaviors that results in bad consequences are less likely to occur again. In this case the good consequence is earning the money to buy prizes and the bad consequence is having their money taken away due to bad behavior. I was able to witness her give the fake money to several of her students.
- Will removal punishment work with all students or just my CT’s class?
- What other behavioral systems can I use on my class when I become a teacher?