(Sample Lesson Excerpt - CM1)
Maximize Learning with Positive Behavior Strategies
by Barbara Gruber, M.A. & Sue Gruber, M.A.
Copyrighted Material

Lesson 7
Strategies for Individual Behavior Management

What's ahead in this Lesson?
In this lesson you'll learn how your mindset and the ways in which you interact with students influences their behavior. We'll look at the different personality types found in every classroom and specific ways to deal with these children when they misbehave. You'll learn how to manage the behavior of disruptive students and how to keep them motivated to do well. Finally, we'll show you easy ways to document and keep records of students' behavior without creating a paperwork nightmare for yourself.

Introduction
Isn't it amazing how just one disruptive child can influence the other students in your classroom and set the tone for your entire school day? It's time for true confessions! Have you ever had a morning at school start out in an unbelievably perfect way? As you take attendance you realize that the most chronically disruptive child in your class is absent. Your spirits soar as you imagine all of the possibilities that lie ahead for a fabulous day of tremendous learning in your classroom. You observe that without this child's negative energy the rest of your students get along well with one another and a sense of calmness has settled over the room. Of course, thirty minutes into this bliss the little darling shows up with a late pass because of a dental appointment. You should know better-children like this always have perfect attendance! Nirvana disappears in a blink of the eye and the disruptions begin.

Get Set for Positive Interactions

Let's zero in on two key elements that can make your interactions with students more positive.

A Winning Mindset
Your students count on you to make them feel safe and cared for when they are at school. They look to you for encouragement, explanations, reminders, guidance, and consistency. There's no doubt about it -- teaching can be downright frustrating! Don't you have those moments when you feel like the only option is to scream and tear your hair out?

As impossible as it sounds, the best thing you can do is to stay cool and calm. It might take a deep breath or two to make it happen, but it's worth it to vow to always stay calm. Nothing undercuts your authority more than when you "lose it" and threaten students. Unrealistic threats that are never carried out become meaningless to students. They quickly learn that you don't mean what you say. By staying calm and consistent you are able to communicate more effectively with students and help them get back on track.

Communication Counts
The way you talk to your students makes a huge impact on how they respond to you. Here are some easy ways to instantly foster positive interactions with your students:

• Be a leader! Be confident, decisive and consistent. Show your students that you mean what you say and you say what mean.
  
  
• Be respectful! Always address students by name and use a kind tone. Instead of towering over a student during a one to one conversation, crouch down so you are at the student's eye level.
  
  
• Be positive! Try to be upbeat whenever possible. Negative energy brings you and your students down.
  
  
• Encourage participation! Make sure that you have several opportunities each day for students to express opinions and make choices.
  
  
• Give praise! Notice and give specific praise for the positive things your students do.
  
  
• Be polite! If you expect your students to be polite, what better way to teach it than modeling it on a daily basis.
  
  
• Keep it simple! You want your students to follow what you're saying and not to be overwhelmed. Make it a point to break down big pieces of information into smaller pieces. Many children have a hard time trying to process too much information at once.
  
  
• Be direct! You'll get much better results when you are direct and tell your students exactly what you want them to do. If you are vague or too general it's confusing for students to figure out what they should be doing.
  
  
• Follow through! The most important way to maintain your credibility is to follow through on promises. Remember, don't say it unless you mean it.

Connect With Every Student
Take a minute and try this right now. Jot a list of the names of your students from memory. Some students pop into your mind immediately. Are you having trouble remembering some of your students? Those students whose names you jotted down first are the ones who tend to get the most of your attention. Those on the bottom of the list and the ones who didn't even make the list are probably getting less attention than they deserve. Now that you know who those students are, try your best to make sure they get their fair share of your time. Remind yourself by posting a list of these students in a discrete place.

A Private Chat
Here's a great way to connect with every child in your class! At the beginning of each week, mention to two or three students that it's their turn to chat with you sometime during that week. Letting students know ahead of time gives them a chance to think about what they want to tell you. Hold three minute, uninterrupted chat sessions with students. Sit back, listen and then respond. Keep track on a class list, so everyone gets a turn. Your students will be thrilled to have your undivided attention for three minutes. These chats are perfect for getting to know shy children.

(You have reviewed part of Lesson 7. The lesson continues with ideas to help teachers everywhere. There are 9 lessons in this course.)