EDFX 315

WEEK 1
Critical Reflection 1: 10/6/15
Description
Today was the second day of my block placement. Four Blue
consists of 28 students, 9-10 years of age. Today I had what I would
describe as a breakthrough, with two of the students. I have
previously had trouble asserting my confidence in dealing with their
misbehaviour. Today during our inquiry lesson a student came to
quietly complain that the two students behaviour was distracting
her and stopping her from working. I told the student that I would
have a word to the students. I then did so and they were both
compliant to my request for them to work in a manner that
respectful of others and allowed everyone, including themselves, to
get the most out of the lesson and their time at school.
Interpretation
I consider this to be a critical incident because it was a breakthrough
in my relationship with the two students. Previous to this incident,
any attempts to get either student on task or to stop any
inappropriate behaviour, had been met with a response that was
either worse behaviour or being ignored. I believe that this
interaction with the two students was effective because I was able
to open a dialogue with them both. I was able to inform them that
their behaviour had been stopping other students attempts to work,
that this was unfair to others because they have come to school to
learn, that school time was our time to learn and that silly behaviour
was to be left for recess, lunch and out of school. I was able to ask
the two students if what I had told them was true or unreasonable
and both were able to tell me that I was telling them something they
knew and understood. From there I asked them to make sure that
they were doing their best work and being mindful of others. They
then returned to working and I did not hear or see them
misbehaving, I checked work later on to see that some progress had
been made.
Outcome

This experience has strengthened my personal belief that it is far

more effective to take an approach to inappropriate behaviour which
challenges a student to think deeply out their actions and their
consequences, rather than simply yelling and disciplining. Yelling
and disciplining a student for their inappropriate behaviour can
foster harmful feelings of resentment for the student, which in turn
further reduces the likelihood of the student returning to work or
behaving in the appropriate manner which is what you are wanting
to achieve. By making the student stop and reflect on their
behaviour, we have enabling them to take responsibility for their
own actions and to reflect on those better choices that they can be
making.