Classroom Management Strategies for Effective Instruction

Classroom Environment…

• “No improvement will occur in instruction until the classroom climate improves.”
• “Classrooms have personalities just like people.”
• -63 Ways of Improving Classroom Instruction
• (Gary Phillips and Maurice Gibbons)

Classroom Environment

• Polsky’s Diamond – Dr. Howard Polsky
• The Five Ranks of Social Power:
• Leaders
• Lieutenants
• Members
• Status Seekers
• Scapegoats

Polsky’s Diamond, cont.

• The Social Interaction with-in diamond is prompted by the need for 3 things….
• 1)Power – influence over one’s own life
• 2)Affiliation – belonging
• 3)Achievement – status

….so their behaviors look like:

• Social functions of Behavior:
• Attention Seeking (adult/peer)
• Power/control
• Fear of failure/frustration
• Imitation
• Other functions of Behavior:
• Getting something (sensory input)
• Revenge or retaliation
• Avoidance (person/activity, demands or requests)
• Feels Good/Play

Social Skills…

• How do “Tough Kids” meet these needs?
• Behavioral Excesses-
• Aggression Arguing
• Hitting Fighting
• Shouting Teasing
• Blaming Provoking
• Behavioral Deficits-
• Using self-control Cooperating
• Problem Solving Helping
• Sharing Making good decisions

Need for Social Skills

• In order to assist the child in meeting the 3 needs, effective social skills instruction should be employed.
• Social Skills: Basic skills needed to successfully interact with adults and peers.

6 Components of an Effective Social Skills Program

• 1) Rationale
• 2) Modeling
• 3) Concept Teaching
• 4) Role Playing/Behavior Rehearsal and Practice
• 5) Coaching
• 6) Contingent Reinforcement