Education

THINK PIECE # 3

EDUC 1F95

Feb. 28 2011

John is a new teacher who has been using different techniques to help teach his grade 3 class and keep them on track. His techniques of teaching are not done very well, there are kinks in between, so he asks another teacher April to help him target why his techniques are not working. She gives him advice about the Applied Behaviour Analysis method and the Social Constructivist approach, which allows John to incorporate these methods and allow the class to improve on staying focused and achieving a higher level of learning through peer tutoring.

Yard Duty:

April: Hello, you must be John the new teacher taking over the grade 3 class this year?

John: Hi, yes I am and you must be April?

April: Yes, it’s nice to finally meet you. How has the grade 3 class been treating you so far?

John: I am having such a great time with the class but I feel like there are students who have difficulty understanding, and my techniques are not sticking. They are not focusing on the tasks at hand; they distract themselves by watching the clock, and waiting for another activity to begin.

April: I had the same issue because most of those kids were in my classroom last year and they were quite the handful. But, I just found different ways to keep them on task.

John: Hmm, do you think you could give me some advice on how to keep the class on task?

April: Sure, I would love to....meet me in the staff room during lunch.

Staff Room: Lunch Period

John: April, thank you for taking the time to help me out, I just need a push in the right direction.

April: I am glad to help; I think it is great that you are so enthused to find new ways to improve your teaching. Tell me what your techniques have been so far?

John: Well, I first started using a reinforcer to help them stay on track, for example I let them know that if they finish 10 math problems they will be allowed to go outside for recess. But then I feel bad when they do not get to go...