Helping Students Relate to Individuals and Communities

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Chapter 9

This activity contains 12 questions.

This is Ms. Bixler's first year of teaching. She feels she has more "control" over her third grade class when the students' desks are arranged in rows. She is not sure why her children are so loud and disrespectful when there is an opportunity for discussion. So she has stopped open discussion time and the students raise hands and are called on. This feels "wrong" to her but she is afraid to lose control. Please select the best advice for Ms. Bixler. She is right to be concerned about control. New teachers, especially, need to be seen in control and will earn the students and other teachers respect by insisting on a quiet, orderly classroom at all times.Ms. Bixler should respect herself and her students and shift her thinking to shared control, empowering her students to learn and learn along with them- not power-tripping on them. The learning environment she creates can nurture a mutual respect where the students feel they are working toward self-discipline, communication, collaboration, and mutual respect.

Two teachers are talking about inviting family members to class. Ms. Peele states, " I gave up years ago on inviting those people- there is no benefit. I haven't got time- I must prepare the students for the end of year tests and that is all...". Why is it important to involve family members and friends with class?

Involving a family member in class strengthens students understanding of and respect for each other, if coordinated and facilitated well- in a classroom where respect is ever present and a foundation. As students interact with people representing a variety of cultures, they are likely to overcome their prejudices, becoming "citizens who work for the common good"By inviting family members to class the teacher will have 30-6- minutes to catch up on grading and paperwork.None of the aboveAll of the above

Ms. Lentz states, " I have enough to do, with preparing all of my lessons and managing behavior, it is not my responsibility or job to help students relate!"

Is Mrs. Lentz correct? In what way(s) can teachers help students to develop independence and responsibility?

Provide outlines of suggested proceduresGive clear directionAnticipate difficultiesPlan carefullyNone of the above. Independence and responsibility do not depend on one another and teachers can't help students to become independent or responsible. This is the parent's job.

Mr. Roper has math competitions, reading contests, spelling bees, and timed tests. He awards stars to the same three students every week. He is constantly telling the other students to be more like these three students. Mr. Roper needs your advice. He is noticing his students are starting to cheat, lie, and tease each other- and the main goal is to win. They are jealous of the "top three" and he wonders if this is ok. Please select the best advice for Mr. Roper.

Jealousy is normal and students should have experiences and opportunities (like contests) to feel jealous. People need practice with dealing with jealousy. Tell your children to toughen up- the world is competitive and mean. Jealousy is a natural feeling resulting from egocentrism in younger students who find it hard to accept other students being the center of attention. Even though it is normal, it threatens self-respect because there is uncertainty. "Does my teacher respect my work, even though I lost?" Limit situations that promote jealousy, it can lead to other behavior issues- lying, cheating, and bullying.

In what ways can teachers help students monitor and control their own aggression?

Use cooperative learning strategies.Eliminate conditions that promote aggression and instead work on assertive, confident behaviors. Teach that aggression does not reward them- i.e.: time out.All of the above result in less aggression.None of the above result in less aggression.

It is suggested teachers should examine historical events for aggression, examine current events, and discuss solutions, aggressors, and the situation. What are some good examples from history or current events teachers may use for this strategy?

Immigration, Native Americans, Civil Rights Movement, warTeachers do not need to worry about aggressive behaviors. Our civilized society is definitely non-aggressive and has not experiences conflict.Ask questions such as, how could it be handled differently? Then the students should work together and brainstorm possible solutions to historical or current events. Holidays around the world, celebrations, and light

Mr. Mock is asked to attend a peer-mediation/conflict resolution training workshop. He does not go because he believes the children in his classes are not capable of acting as neutral third parties to resolve disputes. He does not think they have the skills necessary for this. He has been teaching 30 years and "handles" his own discipline and prides himself on "no principal involvement" although any misbehavior he does have or can't handle is blamed on the parents and society's decline. Please choose the best advice for Mr. Mock.

This workshop will not give you the necessary tools or strategies to help maintain responsible and productive intergroup relations.You should go because you are expected to earn Continuing Education Units.Conflict resolution and peer mediation requires specific skills that can't be taught in school settings. It requires so much of your time and will take you away from instruction. You should not go; sounds like you have it under control.Your students will learn and develop fundamental competencies such as self-control, self-respect, empathy, and teamwork. You will need to spend less time on behavior management, eventually- because you will be sharing the power and control with your students.

In what way(s) should bullying be handled by a teacher?

Ignore bullying behaviors and focus on the children who are attentive.Teach students guidelines and give students the tools to recognize what bullying is and the possible behaviors of a bully. Make the bully sit separately from the group so you can better manage his/her behavior.

Mrs. Winkler addresses her students as "friends" in class. She learned this strategy at a workshop relating to creating a classroom community. Is there anything else she can do to help the students demonstrate friendly behaviors?

Mrs. Winkler should enforce a class rule that states, "You can't reject a friend"- you must like everyone, no matter what. She should coach the students in social skills throughout the day by modeling, listening, questioning, etc. She should address the children by their first names and maintain a clear teacher/student dynamic.

Miss Jennings stated that she will not teach morals. She believes this should be reserved for church and home, not school. Morality has three aspects- what is the connection to social studies instruction?

Morality and social studies are not connected and powerful teaching. Moral reasoning relates to appropriate behavior in your social studies classroom. Teaching in a classroom where morals and values are not present is more appropriate. Children will learn what they need to learn about morals later in life.

Mrs. Greene left the room to attend to an incident in the hall, while she was being observed by her principal. The principal believes "the true evaluation of a teacher is the behavior of the students when she turns her back or steps out" If Mrs. Greene has been helping students relate to each other through conflict management, values and moral education, what should be happening in her classroom right now?

The students are so engaged in their cooperative team projects- they do not even notice their teacher is in the doorway. The students are fighting and bullying a small boy in the classroom- passing notes, and giggling.The students view this as a "break" and begin socializing about the upcoming dance. They haven't been able to speak since the bus stop!The students are intimidated by the principal and sit quietly waiting for their teacher to return.

Miss Cashmere has given her class an authentic assessment focusing on values and attitudes toward the US involvement in war. What is important for her to remember about assessing how diverse students relate to individuals and communities?

Even if done in a respectful manner, the classroom is not a safe place for stating your opinion on something such as war. This assignment is inappropriate for assessment. Simply record participation points and personal growth. Consider not focusing upon assessing values and attitudes toward controversial issues.Miss Cashmere needs to model pro-social behaviors in the classroom. She must share her own ideology with the children but maintain a closed communication policy with parents and families, so she does not offend anyone. Examples of ways to assess something like this include rank order forms, forced choice questions, checklists, student journals, brief essays, drawings, and role-play.

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Helping Students Relate to Individuals and Communities

Ms. Lentz states, " I have enough to do, with preparing all of my lessons and managing behavior, it is not my responsibility or job to help students relate!" Is Mrs. Lentz correct? In what way(s) can teachers help students to develop independence and responsibility?

In what ways can teachers help students monitor and control their own aggression?

It is suggested teachers should examine historical events for aggression, examine current events, and discuss solutions, aggressors, and the situation. What are some good examples from history or current events teachers may use for this strategy?

In what way(s) should bullying be handled by a teacher?

Mrs. Winkler addresses her students as "friends" in class. She learned this strategy at a workshop relating to creating a classroom community. Is there anything else she can do to help the students demonstrate friendly behaviors?

Miss Jennings stated that she will not teach morals. She believes this should be reserved for church and home, not school. Morality has three aspects- what is the connection to social studies instruction?

Miss Cashmere has given her class an authentic assessment focusing on values and attitudes toward the US involvement in war. What is important for her to remember about assessing how diverse students relate to individuals and communities?

Ms. Lentz states, " I have enough to do, with preparing all of my lessons and managing behavior, it is not my responsibility or job to help students relate!"

Is Mrs. Lentz correct? In what way(s) can teachers help students to develop independence and responsibility?