Lesson 12

Lesson 12 focuses on behavior: student behavior and reinforcers will be focused on

in this post.

Student Behavior
3 key concepts:
*root word of discipline is disciple or "a follower of a teacher"; it is mostly about
learning and is never an end—it is ensuring students have the maximum
opportunity to learn and reach their full potential by preventing behavior problems
*teacher beliefs on about discipline have a strong cultural basis and if a students
has a different culture than the teacher their behavior is more likely to be
responded to; they may also vary their discipline techniques; teachers must monitor
their behavior to ensure response is not biased
*interventions for preventing behavior challenges have been collected: positive
behavioral interventions and supports enhance the learned environment and
improved outcomes for students--PBS is grouped by intensity.
-primary prevention: designed to create school wide and classroom environments that
address the needs of 80% of students
-secondary prevention: group level—quickly and efficiently address problems before
they become more serious; it addresses an additional 15% of students usually through small
groups
-tertiary prevention: individual level includes intensive interventions for the 5% whose
behavior problems are chronic or exceptionally serious
Reinforcers
To ensure that positive reinforcement is successful for students with special needs,
keep in mind that many types of rewards can be used.
Social reinforcers: might include a positive call home, a pat on the back or hug,
verbal praise, or selection as Classroom Citizen of the Month
Activity reinforcers: involves activities such as playing games, having extra recess,
helping a teacher in another class, or participating in other coveted individual or
group pastimes
Tangible reinforcers: prizes and other objects that students can earn as symbols of
achievement and that students want to obtain: the amount has to be appropriate for
the positive behavior required
Primary reinforcers: foods and other items related to human needs that a student
finds rewarding—they are often edible and should be only employed if a student is
incapable of understanding more natural rewards or other types of rewards are not
effective

Understanding behavior of students is important because every student will behave

differently based on stimuli. It is important to realize that different kinds of
positive reinforcers are available and it is okay to use them.