The Martha's Vineyard schools all use the Responsive Classroom model.(www.responsiveclassroom.org)
This week we plan on introducing Logical Consequences; an idea that is an acceptable behavior modification model in Responsive Classroom.
There are three types of logical consequences:
The "you break it, you fix it"rule or in other cases maybe: 'you get it dirty you clean it,' or 'you took it out, now put it back.'
Loss of Privilege: A student demonstrates that they can not handle the responsibility given them, or the activity presented by misbehaving and therefore is no longer allowed to have/do that responsibility/activity.
"Positive" time out: A student does not seems in control of his or her body. Instead of waiting for the problem to escalate, the teacher sends them to a designated place to calm down and return when ready.
I am interested to see if this works with out students. The first type makes the most sense on a human level, it is unarguably "fair" even to a second grader!
Loss of Privilege is logical, but is sometimes not the best case solution. When I taught art teachers often took the "privilege" of art away from a student for misbehaving. Unfortunately those students were often the ones that needed art the most!
Positive time out I am skeptical of. In Montessori we had "Peace Corners" that achieve the same goal, but avoiding the "time-out" stigma altogether. Peace Corners were beautiful little places specifically for getting peaceful. Not a chair unceremoniously set in a corner of the classroom.
BUT we shall see! I have been wrong before.
Resources:
www.responsiveclassroom.org/article/three-types-logical-consequences
www.responsiveclassroom.org/article/responding-misbehavior
www.nsms.org/content/peace-and-montessori-environment
