Changing individuals behavioral paterns
Does anyone have good practices for changing student behavior or attitudes. We have many students who grew up in a culture that is truly not acceptable in society or the work place. Many have criminal backgrounds or grew up in the streets with no parential guidance or support. They feel their actions and behavior is acceptable because that's all they know. It's hard for faculty at times to relate to the lifestyle that many of our students come from.
I find that it is helpful to build a rapport with a student who has behaviour or attitude problems by building on your common interests. I spend time with these students on break or lunch time building that relationship. After I feel that we have connected on common points of interest I explain to them from a pragmatic and non-judgemental approach that their behaviour is likely to block access to their goals. There is no better reward for a teacher than to see them forsake their previous social ties and start a new life in a new location with a new career.
This reality is a perfect situation for educators! We often find that before we can communicate our content discipline, we must first communicate our values, expectations, and train our students to be students. We must bring them from where they are to where they can receive information in a way appropriate and conducive to learning. We must define our learning community and its shared values, perspectives, uniqueness, and in essence, attempt to facilitate the community's transformation from street to academic-- from random to intellectual-- from wild to tame. That's education.
Kim--
It sounds like you have a great grasp on the cause of some destructive behavior. Unfortunately, many of us have self-inflicted problems and the behavior reinforces the expectations.
That said, there are few things more rewarding than seeing people turn the corner on these issues.
Susan
I can tell you that the area our school is located has many of the same issues. Not all of these students are hopeless, but they do require a bit of extra work. Some of the things our school does is remind them that they came to school to change their lives, their current distructive paths and make a difference for themselves and their families and their behavior will not help insure they reach those goals. For many of them it is merely teaching them how to be a better person in spite of their past problems or experiences. We find that many of them do not know how to change and by acting out they are really asking for help. One of the things our Career Services Dept does is work with students to change their appearance, which ultimately helps them to see themselves differently. They also have signs posted on each of the restroom mirrors that ask "Would you hire this person?"
Ultimately we can't change them all and those who do not wish to change usually do end up dropping out, but only after we have exhausted every attempt at helping them to make positive change. Many of them will attempt to push you to the point of giving up on them just like everyone else in their life has done. Persistance pays off.
Bad behavior and attitude is never addressed in front of the class, but one on one with the student. Making an example out of these types of students just seems to provide the type of attention they need to thrive. If they become a distraction to other students in the classroom we may take them out of class and go to the Director of Education office, but the key is not to give them more power and not to loose control of the classroom.
This is a great question and the only answer I have to is to set yourself up as a professional role model/mentor.
I agree with Todd's statement above "students feel their actions and behavior is acceptable because that's all they know. It's hard for faculty at times to relate to the lifestyle that many of our students come from."
We have used faculty development to discuss diversity, culture, ages, life experiences. We can still like the student and not like what their actions are in the classroom.
I ask students some questions to get them to look at themselves. "How has that behavior worked for you in the past?" "Who do you look up to - do they do those same actions?" "Do others like to be around you when you do that action?" I try to be supportive and have them look ahead at their goals - graduation and long term employment.
Ronnie--
You are correct, not all behavior is the same. Even in the more difficult situations, a frank discussion can be a wake up call. Sometimes we are afraid to have those conversations, but it is in their best interest down the road.
Susan
some types of behavior can not be tolerated but changing other behavior can be as easy as showing the student that we are all the same student and teacher sit down with them talk with them at their eye level discuss topics the more you get involved the more you will reach with good qwestioning techniecs you can get almost aii involved in the topic.
