Submitted by Stephen Wight, Maryville, Tennessee
Idea posted May 9, 2011
I've had a first grade class that's been eating my lunch every week for the whole year! I don't know why, but they just seemed to be unbelievably immature for their age. I've tried everything: They have seat assignments (to give them the best chance of behaving away from their friends), we've moved clips, we've had to stop doing movement stuff because they couldn't behave out of their seats, etc.
Last week, I had an epiphany: I was part of the problem.
It occurred to me that, as soon as one person would do something inappropriate (being out of their seat, for example), if I called them down, they stopped, but three others did the exact same thing. THEY WERE TRYING TO GET MY ATTENTION! Was it possible that the only way they were able to get my attention was through poor behavior? Really?
Absolutely. Because the year started poorly, I had ended up giving a lot of attention to misbehavers, in the hopes of nipping it in the bud early. Because the misbehavers didn't "get it," they kept it up, got more attention, and I stopped having time to recognize the good. So began a terrible cycle.
Today, I changed it up. When there was a behavior going on that I didn't like, I immediately began thanking individuals who were doing what was right. "Alice, I really like the way you came in quietly and got in your seat. Thank you so much." "Jairus, have I told you how wonderful your singing voice is? I really like hearing you sing in that singing voice." "Diana, I was watching just now. You kept paying attention to me even when someone was trying to talk to you. That's awesome, kiddo."
It was like a different class; complete sea change. It was just amazing the difference that was made in only one class period.
I took them back to their room, and their teacher asked me, "So how were they today?"
"Great!" I replied.
"Really?" she asked, "because they've been having a really hard day in here. But I'm glad they were good for you!"