Four Strategies for Managing the Disruptive Behavior of Children and Youth: Practical Help for the Classroom Teacher

• NCJ Number: 111691
• Journal: Canadian Journal of Special Education Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (1987) Pages: 53-62
• Author(s): D R Freeze
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

Strategies implemented in alternative schools for managing disruptive children and youth may be helpful for regular classroom teachers. Four such strategies are discussed.

Abstract

Examples relevant to the classroom teacher are used to characterize and illustrate each strategy. The strategies are (1) mini courts, (2) good behavior report sessions, (3) goal attainment scaling, and (4) mission impossible teams. The mini court strategy applies simplified judge and jury courtroom procedures in the classroom. The advantages of this strategy are that it places the students in a responsible position, and it is a public process in which the disruptive students' peers mediate the disciplinary process. Disadvantages include the fact that the strategy works best after classroom rules have been established and accepted, and that some jurors judge on the basis of loyalty rather than testimony. The behavior report sessions strategy involves students in counting their own good behaviors throughout the school day and receiving delayed reinforcement for this behavior. Advantages include enabling teachers to reinforce behaviors they may have been unable to respond to at the time and placing students in a self-management mode. A disadvantage of this approach is that it requires students to interact as a group much of the time. Goal attainment scaling is a tool for assessment and action counseling of individual and groups. One advantage is that it is an action-oriented and interactive process which involves students in the design and measurement of their own program of change. Disadvantages are that it is inappropriate for younger children and that it is time consuming. The mission impossible team strategy enlists help from the peer group to keep a person out of trouble after school. Limitations are that there has to be parental agreement for use of team members and that these members have to be committed and competent. Advantages are the influence of peers on behavior and that it captures the spirit of adventure in the child and team members. 1 table and 11 references. (Author abstract modified)