1. I am observing in a 5th grade classroom.
2. The school I am observing at is Carrie Busy Elementary School.
3. There are no rules posted in the classroom. The teacher explained that the students know these rules and it is a waste of everyone’s time to have them posted. The teacher feels that posting rules does not make them follow them. He gives out the rules verbally so that they can truly be understood.
4. According to the teacher He is the one that makes the students cooperative. He accomplishes this by explaining that there is no alternative.
5. According to the teacher uncooperative behavior is caused by personal dislikes of the students.
6. This is how my co-operative teacher explained how he deals with uncooperative behavior: He has a one sided conversation in which he causes that student to become cooperative. If this behavior continues he makes that student leave the classroom. They can cooperate or they can leave.
7. I asked the teacher how he displays positive reinforcement he answered if a child does not follow directions he will ask the student what the rules of the activity are. He will encourage the child to make his/her decision on the rules. For an example: before class a child comes with a permission slip to hand to the teacher. The teacher asks him “Where do you turn all papers in at? The child answer’s in the bin. The teacher responds “So why are you handing it to me”. That is how my teacher says he uses positive reinforcement.
8. My experience has been just that, an experience. My teacher definitely practices different techniques than many teachers use. I guess you can say he has a unique style however; this is not a style that I think that I will use when I was a teacher. I can see that the students listen to every word that he says but I do not think they are doing so out interest to learn. I feel they are reacting to fear. They know if they act uncooperative they better stop right away. Although he has the student’s attention I feel that the students are afraid to ask questions. His classes are very cut and dry. This is how you do it. Now do it. Are there any questions. No. Good lets move on. He does however give the students activities to do in their seats. He will walk around and look for common problems that the students have made. He will stop the class and try to clear up these problems right away.