Chapter six is an overview of the support systems that can be accessed in times of need.By reorganizing the school day and schedule, and often by making minor adjustments, educators can build support systems into the school day without additional cost.
Support systems need to include the teaching of procedural self-talk, positive self-talk, planning, goal-setting, coping strategies, appropriate relationships, options during problem solving, access to information and know-how, and connections to additional resources. The seven categories of support systems are
1.) Coping Strategies,
2.) Options During Problem Solving,
3.) Information and Know-How,
4.) Temporary Relief from Emotional, Mental, Financial, and/or Time Constraints,
5.) Connections to Other People and Resources,
6.) Positive Self-Talk,
7.) Procedural Self-Talk.
An explanation of these support systems is followed by a sample list of support systems that can be used in schools to help students of poverty.
Given the information in this chapter how can you use it to improve your school?
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33 comments:
I believe the information in this chapter is very useful. I noticed some of the examples they gave, like AR, we already do. There were other things that this chapter helped to reinforce, like setting a schedule and expectations for your students and sticking to it. I sometimes forget that classroom procedures not only make my life function easier but how helpful they are for students. The chapter explained how important it is for them to know what it is they are going to do and be expected to do each and every day. I believe that scheduling is stressed at Robinson and this helps to show us the importance. One other thing they mentioned that I really liked was how one school has a certain amount of time set aside during the day so students may go down and get tutored with their homework. That seemed like a wonderful idea. Often we do not give homework or place much emphasis on it because it is hard for our students to get it done at home. Homework does reinforce concepts taught in class. I am not a fan of hours and hours of homework, but I do think some would be beneficial. Having a program like that seems like it would be beneficial to our students. I found there to be many good ideas in this chapter.
Classroom procedures are a must! Learning takes place in a classroom that has procedures. When I was teaching third grade, there was no way that I would even try to teach without a procedure for everything.
Nicole Dodson
Coping strategies at school helps to effectively deal with student conflicts and helps to solve problems. Positive self talk lends encouragement to self and others. Also, procedural self talk allows students task completions while promoting consistency. Having and following procedures help the students to know what is expected of them and also, prepares them for change, when necessary.
Evory Johnson
Procedures in the classroom are a necessity. Having and implementing procedures in the classroom help to fine-tune the learning experience. I thank-you for your comment Nicole.
Evory Johnson
Procedures in the classroom help to make the classroom function easily and generates understanding in the students in what is expected of them. Thank-you for your comments, Meredith.
Evory Johnson
I have noticed that all of our teachers are very encouraging to our students. We are constantly sending them messages of what they can accomplish. Because of us doing this, I think it develops better positive self-talk. I have heard so many students say they can not do something without even attempting. It can be the simplest task, but yet, they see everything against them. With us being so encouraging and having a positive classroom environment, I think it will help with them creating positive self-talk. They may often hear that they can't do something at home. Helping them develop the ability to use positive-self talk can better the child as a whole.
Janitra Jackosn
I think this chapter has some of the best ideas. I know that as a Kindergarten teacher I directly and indirectly teach procedural self-talk. I think the idea of putting together a video for the parents. I think parent assisstance is very important to help our kids succeed.
H. Gasper
As a Kindergarten teacher it is quite obvious how important procedures are. The students who have never been at our school not only have to be taught our procedures for our class, but also the procedures for the school. That first week shows you how important those little procedures are to help a day run smoothly.
H. Gasper
I also think direct teaching of coping strategies would be a good idea for some of, if not all of, our kids.
H. Gasper
Heather,
I think you have some of the best coping strategies of any teacher that I have ever seen. You are doing a fabulous job supporting your students.
I definitely believe that implementing procedures and expectations are key to obtain the desired outcomes from our students. But we as teachers must look to ourselves to be the example that the students see setting the mark. We must be prepared daily to meet the challenges that we will encounter in the classroom. Our students look to us to guide them and it is the model that we provide that will ultimately be the exmaple that the students will follow.
I believe that everyone at the school has procedures in place that will allow them to be successful. My question to our group is will we continually follow up and update the procedures to meet the needs of the class?
Support systems provide the basis that will allow us to implement the procedures that we need to help our students excel in the classroom. We cannot deny the importance that organization plays in developing the educational practices of our students.
I believe that updating our procedures is a must. Our students need a lot of structure, and having them follow procedures on a daily basis just simply makes things easier on both the students and ourselves. As the year goes on our children change, and we must change with them in order to keep the structure we have set in place.
Janitra Jackson
Support systems are indeed important for our school. In retrospect, our AVID classes have tutoring from the community. Children seem to be more at ease with peers teaching or reteaching skills, therefore learning from this outside support system can be beneficial.
We also have team teaching or team interventions. This intervention helps students become more successful in school. However, I believe more problem-solving strategies are needed to alleviate the disciple problems that occur in our classrooms.
Yes, Merredith this chapter is very useful in helping one understand the support systems that are available. One aspect you mentioned was homework procedures. I believe homework may not be necessary for some students, because they fully understand the subject matter, but it's a mean of learning to be responsible. It also is a mean of practicing being subject to authority. If the teacher says do homework I believe the student should comply. Likewise, hours and hours of homework is indeed not necessary.
These preceding comments belongs to me.
Augustine Cann
Mr. Watson, I agree with you that implementing procedures and expectations are keys to obtain a desired end. Classrooms procedures are necessary. Routines are ways to minimize disciple problems. Students will know what to expect daily. We cannot deny the importance of this practice
Augustine Cann
This was an interesting chapter. It really made me pause and meditate on some things. Many of the students lack the coping strategies to be successful. I find myself asking the question WHY? quite often. Why do our students choose to fight rather than talk through their problems. This chapter really openned my eyes. I believe that providing the students with the know-how is essential in their survival and success in life.
I agree whole-heartedly with Ms. Dodson's comment on classroom procedure. Most students go into a classroom with the expectancy of classroom procedures. It's like a road map for them. Can you imagine driving in New York City without a GPS or map? Now, think about the students and how they would feel without classroom procedures.
Ms. Jackson, I concur with your comment on updating our procedures. We can update or change our procedures without changing our expectations. New situations bring on a new set of rules, or in some cases, amendments to what already exists.
Without classroom procedures I would not be as effective as I am. The students will have a higher order of learning while following the procedures. If no procedures were in place the classroom would be very hectic and little or no learning would be taking place.
This information in this chapter is good reminder of some of the things we need to continue doing,like the AR, we now have AM which involves math. It discussed the importance of setting a schedule and expectation for the students. I was looking through some old material the other day and found Henry Wong's First year teacher he share some the same tips. If we are going to be successful we must be organized set high expectations for our students.
Cleoria Dunn
Ms. Neal,
You are the most dedicated teacher I know, your procedures and your expectation are in place and your children follow. I think you do well with the coping we all ask why?
cleoria Dunn
Mr. Watson,
To answer your question we must continue to change and make adjustment in order for our students to succeed.
Cleoria Dunn
Until I read this chapter, I was not aware of the parent voice vs. the adult voice. It is very obvious to me now that the parent voice can invoke anger and/or resentment or frustration simply because of how it’s interpreted by some of our students from poverty. The term “language of negotiation” is perfect since the adult voice is non-judgmental and neutral. I have never intended to come across negatively but now I’m sure I probably have at some time. This will serve me well in the future and help to promote more successful behavior in class and at school.
Karen Holland
Miss Gasper, I agree that you are a master at and exhibit some of the best coping strategies of any teacher at this school. You have truly been tried and tested this year and are doing a superb job supporting your students. I only hope I can be as successful as you in my endeavors.
Karen Holland
Classroom procedures definitely must be in place. Without procedures then the children have no idea what is expected out of them. It is the same way with rules we must follow. Just imagine how crazy it would be if everyone was driving the interstate at his/her own desired speed. Wow! What a mess!!!
DeWanna Granger
Great comments Meredith! You have really been posting excellent blogs.
DeWanna Granger
I agree with Mrs. Jackson. Every year brings new children and new challenges and we must work together to find procedures that work the best in both situations.
DeWanna Granger
Of the strategies in this chapter, my top three are coping strategis, postive self-talk and procedural self-talk. First, all students need coping skills because we all will face adversities beyond our control. Many times the problem is they don't know what to do when they hear no. If they can learn not to fall apart or give up they can survive anything.
Once they realize life doesn't always work out the way we would like or even think we deserve, they use positive self-talk to help them understand there's nothing wrong with self but, my trials come to make me stronger. If prevents self-doubt and/or self-dislike. Lastly, procedural self-talk helps get things back in order. This strategy prevents the "pity party" and restores them to being productive once again. In my opinion, these three are a powerful, powerful combination.
Like Meredith, I felt that a lot of the information in this chapter is very, very useful. I especially liked the fact that coping strategies were discussed in this chapter. Children, especially children in poverty, need to be taught that there is nothing wrong with getting angry. Anger is a normal reaction. However, what you do when you get angry can be a problem, especially if you are trying to harm someone else. There are consequences for your actions. Anger is not an excuse. They need to be taught strategies to help them deal with their anger. I also liked the section that talked about support systems that schools use, such as schoolwide homework support, schoolwide scheduling, and parent training and contact through video. I feel that Robinson Elementary could greatly benefit from implementing some of these support systems, especially teaching coping strategies, team interventions, and the direct-teaching of classroom survival skills. I don't agree with students staying with the same teacher for two or more years, especially if the students are unfairly grouped.
Glenn Antonio Kline
I feel like the biggest support system we need is to provide relief from emotional constraints. Our students do not have the support systems in place that provide quick and appropriate help when they are having behavioral issues and the occasional "meltdowns". I believe that is they had emotional issues addressed, or at least acknowledged, as soon as they need it, we could cut out so many problems. They carry around baggage that they have no idea how to ever unload, and we never know enough about it (or have time) to address it.
I agree with the first post about the homework. Lord knows that I know my students NEED to be do homework every day, but most never do it, and if they do, they usually end up confusing themselves and turning in work that is like reading a foreign language (mainly math). Stronger supports at home would make a huge difference with this, but then again, without the help outside of school, there isn't much we can do.
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