Try, Try, and Try Again...

Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer (2009) note, “If the technology does not further the goals of your standards-based unit or lesson plan, then it may not be the best tool for that particular situation” (p.193). I have found this to be particularly true during this week with my GAME plan. The use of technology was my reward for positive behavior, but the time of success is fleeting for some players. This situation gave me cause to return to the play book and re think my strategy.

While watching my students interact with one another, I had long ago noted their constant discontent with one another, but I had noticed their positive interactions with students in younger grades. Whether the students are waiting for lunch or waiting for library time, my students always seem to want to take care of someone.

Since day 1 of class my students have had a comradeship that seemed much like a family; they constantly want to reprimand one another to the point of fighting.  All this time I have mistaken their actions in my classroom of being “bossy” to taking care of one another because that is what they have to do at home. I know the majority of my students get themselves up and out the door in the morning and may not see their caregiver at all that day, so each other is all they have. So a redirection is what I did.

Beginning this week, the students that are not responding to the computer as a reward have another option. Each student will be a classroom buddy to a Kindergarten or first grade student. They can have no more than five redirections for the week and they must maintain passing scores and turn in all work completed in order to make their visit on Friday afternoons. They have met their buddies and they know their buddies are “really counting on seeing them” each Friday. It is my hope this accountability will help raise their motivation within my classroom. I’ll let you know…Keep your fingers crossed. 

Reference:

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. (Laureate Education, Inc., Custom ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.