Creating Structured Environments: Teaching the relationship between behavioral choices and outcomes

Format

Individual Presentation

Presenters

Whitney Wayne Meade, The University of Alabama in HuntsvilleFollow

First Presenter's Institution

University of Alabama in Huntsville

Second Presenter's Institution

NA

Third Presenter's Institution

NA

Fourth Presenter's Institution

NA

Fifth Presenter's Institution

NA

Location

Verelst

Strand #1

Safety & Violence Prevention

Relevance

Creating a structured environment where students are empowered to grow yet provides the needed structure to teach the relationship between behavioral choices and outcomes is critical for youth at-risk. Teaching the relationship between behavioral choices and outcomes can mean the difference between long-term success and incarceration. This presentation addresses the strand of "Hands" by teaching participants behavioral strategies that can be implemented in both educational and residential settings.

Brief Program Description

Creating a structured environment where students are empowered to grow yet provides the need structure to teach the relationship between behavioral choices and outcomes is critical for youth at-risk. This session will teach participants the skills to:

1. establish classroom rules and expectations,

2. structure, teach, observe, interact and provide constructive feedback

3. utilize point sheets to teach self monitoring for academic, social and classroom engagement

This session is primarily targeted to school employees but will benefit any professional working with youth that are at-risk.

Summary

Creating a structured environment where students are empowered to grow yet provides the need structure to teach the relationship between behavioral choices and outcomes is critical for youth at-risk. Historically the accepted method for dealing with inappropriate or challenging behavior was discipline (Sprick, 2009). In 2002, research illustrated the shock new teachers felt when faced with challenging behavior. Many expressed a lack of preparation to handle the severity of emotional and behavioral issues demonstrated by their students (Meister & Jenks 2000). With a changing culture, school have moved away from discipline focused strategies to those considered to be positive and proactive. This session is designed to give educators and direct care personnel specific, positive and behaviorally based strategies that can empower children at risk to learn that they are to a large degree “masters of their personal universe,” understanding that to a large degree they make behavioral choices that will lead to predictable outcomes. Our role as adults and educators is to provide a structured environment where students feel empowered to make these choices and know how we will respond. This session will introduce the following concepts:

1. Classroom rules and expectations- the difference, the similarities and how they are utilized in a structured environment
2. Teacher/Student interactions- the method through which adults and educators teach, observe, and provide constructive feedback
3. Point sheets- a strategy utilized to put rules, expectations and social interactions onto paper in such a way that allows the student to see how they “own” their choices and the outcomes that follow

At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to discuss the key concepts to creating a positive, behaviorally structured classroom. Participants will leave with the knowledge needed to implement a point system and strategic teaching in their personal classrooms.

Evidence

Creating a structured environment where students are empowered to grow yet provides the need structure to teach the relationship between behavioral choices and outcomes is critical for youth at-risk. Historically the accepted method for dealing with inappropriate or challenging behavior was discipline (Sprick, 2009). In 2002, research illustrated the shock new teachers felt when faced with challenging behavior. Many expressed a lack of preparation to handle the severity of emotional and behavioral issues demonstrated by their students (Meister & Jenks 2000). With a changing culture, school have moved away from discipline focused strategies to those considered to be positive and proactive. This session is designed to give educators and direct care personnel specific, positive and behaviorally based strategies that can empower children at risk to learn that they are to a large degree “masters of their personal universe,” understanding that to a large degree they make behavioral choices that will lead to predictable outcomes. Our role as adults and educators is to provide a structured environment where students feel empowered to make these choices and know how we will respond. This session will introduce the following concepts:

1. Classroom rules and expectations- the difference, the similarities and how they are utilized in a structured environment
2. Teacher/Student interactions- the method through which adults and educators teach, observe, and provide constructive feedback
3. Point sheets- a strategy utilized to put rules, expectations and social interactions onto paper in such a way that allows the student to see how they “own” their choices and the outcomes that follow

At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to discuss the key concepts to creating a positive, behaviorally structured classroom. Participants will leave with the knowledge needed to implement a point system and strategic teaching in their personal classrooms.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Whitney Wayne Meade is currently and Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She holds a B.S. degree in K-6 and 6-12 special education, a M.A.in Innovative Leadership and a Ph.D. from Auburn University in Autism and Behavior with a minor in Criminology. She has worked with individuals with disabilities for the last 20 years in a variety of settings.

Keyword Descriptors

behavior strategies, point systems, structure

Presentation Year

2018

Start Date

3-7-2018 9:45 AM

End Date

3-7-2018 11:00 AM

Recommended Citation

Meade, Whitney Wayne, "Creating Structured Environments: Teaching the relationship between behavioral choices and outcomes" (2018). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 68.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2018/2018/68