Completing this case study project has certainly made me more aware of the individual needs of the student I chose. I have taken so much time analyzing and evaluating his behavior that I feel I can almost sense when undesirable behavioral sitautions may present themselves. While I have devoted the study to one particular student, I have realized just how attentive I have become in observing all student behaviors. I have had to learn to balance dividing my attention 22 ways in the class, and it is amazing how teachers are able to complete this task.
Creating the interventions for deterring undesirable behaviors has been rather easy. With the Positive Behavior Support system of rewarding positive behavior to negate the negative, I have been able to utilize small interventions. Having my student set his own behavior goals and devise his own plan for managing his behavior has certainly been great for holding him to the accountability standard. He truly understands the ramifications of his actions, and he knows the expected consequences if he strays from his goals.
Devising the other componenets of the case study have been rather helpful in allowing me to better articulate my behavioral philosophy. It is easy to state strategies that one would use when dealing with challenging behavior, but it is another thing to have an all-encompassing statement that can be applied to any behavior on the spectrum. Realizing that the classroom community is an essential component of deterring undesirable behaviors is a extremely important. Being a teacher in a classroom where every student can recite the behavioral expectations as if they had been chiseled into their brains (well, they probably have been) is a good feeling. When other students in the class feel comfortable enough to correct their classmates’ behaviors in a respectful manner speaks volumes to the effort that has been taken to ensure all students are given the opportunity to learn peacefully.
This study has been beneficial in that it has given me the opportunity to be cognizant of my observation of my students. Because reflection is one of the keys to effective teaching, this study has been great with helping me to “think about my thinking while I’m thinking” to come up with more strategies for teaching my students.
