Think back to your years in middle school. Evaluate how effective the Independents would have been with a group of your teenage peers. Pages 130-133 Full credit: 25 WBT Certification Points Partial credit: 10 WBT Certification Points
Although middle school was many, many moons ago, I think that applying the strategy of the Independents would have been effective. There are always groups of students that push the envelope, trying to get attention. When I think of some of those students, I wonder why they feel the need to be in the Leader, Follower or Bottom Dweller group. What makes them want to be part of a group that thrives on humiliation and intimidation? These cliques were alive and well when I was in school, when my three sons went through school, and now in my own classroom. Obviously, they are a part of adolescence. Since these groups have been, and apparently, will always be a thorn in our side, it is nice to have the Independents strategy for back up behavior management.
I can imagine that it would have been shocking to the rebel clique in my middle school when they realized were put together in the Independent group. It would have also been frustrating for them when they realized they were going to suffer the consequences for the actions of their team members. It may have caused some dissention among the members at first, but I think that they would have eventually realized that unless they conformed to appropriate behavior, they would pay the price. In the chapter, Coach Biffle stated “…if they choose the wrong group, actions by even one member of the group can have a negative effect on everyone in the group”. (132) This would have been an important lesson for these students to learn.
I can recall one group of boys in my middle school that tended to disrupt everything, from class to assemblies by yelling out and using an obnoxious whistle. It would have been interesting to see this strategy in play to see how they would have reacted. I imagine that they would have been somewhat embarrassed, and also felt a little of their power was removed. By removing their captive audience, and their power to penalize the innocent students in the room, would have really removed most of their arsenal. It would have probably worked better than the strategy of sitting them in the hall that was commonly used.
Hopefully, I won’t have to use this level of behavior management, but I’m glad to have it available if needed. With the pressure to join gangs that my students have, even in fifth grade, I think this might be a way to remind them that who you choose to associate with has consequences.
Michelle, Thank you for including personal experiences in your post. I hope you don't have to use Independents this year, but have it ready if necessary! Be careful of editing errors in your next post. (I can imagine that it would have been shocking to the rebel clique in my middle school when they realized were put together in the Independent group. dissention/dissension) Here are 10 points.
When I was in middle school times were quite different than today in that I was in middle school in the 60’s when parents and schools shared a mutual respect. There was little chance that a problem at school would not result in a swift resolution at home. Most of my peers would have wanted to get off “Independent Island” as quickly as possible to avoid any further fallout when the news made its way home. Middle school kids are fickle and by the second hour on the island my peers would have been ready to get back onto the “mainland”. I remember those days when clicks changed frequently. The independents would have been divided and conquered very effectively using the WBT strategy.
When my own children were in middle school in the early 90’s this strategy would have been very effective and would have led to much more learning for the students in my sons’ classrooms. By this time in history, many parents didn’t have any idea what was going on with their child and even blamed the school for the problems. Disruptive students were frequently allowed to set the tone for the learning environment. These students were most often dealt with in one of two extreme methods: totally ignoring what the students were doing or confronting them in front of the class and escalating the behaviors. Both strategies led to giving strength to the offenders and their followers. Independents would have been an excellent behavior tool to get those students back on task and at the same time provide a way for them to save face. In middle school the independents strategy is a great way to help students who have made a bad choice not become comfortable in that classroom role and thus become habitual offenders. It is a learning tool because it very clearly establishes which behaviors are acceptable, which behaviors are unacceptable and what is required to make a behavior change. The emphasis is on the choice the student or students made and how those choices impacted their participation in the classroom environment as a whole. This strategy returns the classroom to the teacher and an atmosphere of learning to the students. It’s a mighty tool and deserves a Mighty Oh Yeah!
We did not have what’s called middle school back in my day. It would have been the 1960s when I was in the grades now considered middle school, and let me tell you, school was very different back then. We had an enforced dress code and an enforced rule of conduct. In addition, not only did we get in trouble at school, but we also would get in trouble at home. Therefore, we didn’t have a lot of the problems that schools face today. But if we did, I can see where the Independents could have been very beneficial to the teachers Using the Independents, students in that group would be learning about making good and bad choices. When a student chooses to join the rebels, he needs to understand that he will be blamed for any infraction whether or not he was the cause of it. This is true in real life, too. When you join with the wrong group, you are also held responsible by association. This is an important lesson for students to learn. Back in my day, I’m sure any student put in the Independent group would want to get out of it as soon as possible because of the punishments at school and at home. By the time my daughters reached middle school in the 1990s, the Independents would have been more useful than during my day. By the 1990s, kids were more disrespectful, and parents often did not support the teachers. By using the Independents, students would learn a valuable life skill--the choices you make have consequences whether good or bad. Now in the present time, I wish I would have known about this strategy last year. I had a group of boys who gave me a run for my money. There was definitely a leader with the followers. With the Independents, it would have been very helpful to get the followers out of the group leaving the leader by himself. I’m hoping next school not to have to use level five, but if I do, I’m awfully thankful for it!
When I look back to my school days, admittedly a long time ago, I cannot recall a student disrespecting the teacher. Corporal punishment was still common practice and you did what you were told to do. Teachers were correct and if you misbehaved at school, you were also punished at home. Parents did not question the authority of the teacher.
With that being said, corporal punishment is harsh and very negative. If teachers had incorporated independents, then some of the mischief would have been curtailed.
I like the fact that students who support one another’s misbehavior are assigned as being independents. Having students to work together to earn points and not lose points is powerful, especially for the student who was actually behaving. Students will learn a valuable life lesson on how to choose their friends or company carefully. I like how students can opt out of the independent group after a day. When the support system fails, students will learn to conform to the rules and begin having fun in school.
Schools have come along way in how they correct students’ misbehavior. Whole Brain Teaching is the most positive way of instilling correct behavior in the classroom. No student is singled out with excessive negative attention but is held to the standards set high from the first day of class. Students respond much better to positive reinforcement than to negative. The various levels of the scoreboard can correspond to the myriad misbehavior that can occur within the classroom. The independent level is for those students who cannot grasp the concepts of acceptable behavior and have to work on that behavior independent of the class. The class does not pay for the deeds of a few. What a win, win, situation. Debora Manuel
I am in a unique situation as I teach in the same middle school I attended approximately 17 years ago. I actually work with some of my own teachers! Middle school was an overall great experience and I truly love the school as a student and now as a teacher. When I think back to my student years I actually cannot think of a time when I saw or heard clear disrespect from my classmates. Of course students may have been talking when they shouldn’t have, or been too loud in the hallways, but nothing too severe. Although, the few students who did misbehave in class would have been brought to silence quickly using the Independents strategy. The idea of being grouped together with other rule-breakers and suffering the consequences of their actions is a real-world learning experience. Students must realize that they do and will be linked with the people who they associate with, whether positive or negative. Middle school is a prime time to learn this truth. I think the idea of having the option to remove your self from the group is brilliant! Having the option provides no excuses and teaches ‘choices have consequences’ again and again if proven necessary. This strategy would work quite well and prove to be an effective discipline tool in Forest Middle, past and present!
Thinking back to my middle school years, I can really remember two or three students that I would have called rebels. All three were female, and they fed on the torture of others. They were what I would call “part of the rough crowd” and what WBT calls a “clique of students.” Growing up in a small community, unfortunately, meant you were in small classes, too. I rode the bus with these girls, ate lunch at the same time as them, and was in all of their classes. They fed off of each other, and their behavior carried over into the classroom. If only my teachers had been wise to the ways of Whole Brain Teaching! Independents Scoreboard Level Five would definitely have worked like a charm with them. I know the rest of the class would have been grateful not to be punished for the girls’ actions, and these girls would have quickly learned the importance of separating themselves from situations that were getting them into trouble. One mean-spirited rebel, who loved harassing others, led this group of girls. Together, they preyed on weaker, more timid students, like me. The Independent level would have played one student against the others, because when one misbehaved, they would have all gotten into trouble. This would have, most certainly, evaporated the clique. My friends and I would have bonded more and supported the teacher wholeheartedly. I remember one time, in seventh grade, when the whole class was punished and not allowed to go outside because of these girls. This would never have happened with “The Independents!” Melinda Sprinkle
Oh Middle School. How I DON’T miss you. Though the students were rough, I had excellent teachers, except for one. She couldn’t keep her class from acting out if her life depended on it. I was one of the few students who sat quietly and tried to learn, but because of her lack of classroom management skills, I learned very little. What bothered me the most was not the rebellious students but her lack of control over them. She really could have used WBT!
In that class, the Independents probably would have helped rein in the boisterous rebels. By putting those independent students in a separate category, they would have begun to pit themselves against each other rather than the teacher. They would not deem it “fair” to be punished for the fault of one in the group. Also, by establishing a strong support with the rest of the class, the teacher would have been able to gain more respect from the good students as well as the Independents. Everyone would have seen her stand up to the rebels, not tolerate their behavior, and follow-through with the consequences. Good students would have gained more respect and admiration, and rebel students would have seen she was a force to be reckoned with.
In Middle School, everything depended on others’ opinions of you. If a person in the Independents was suddenly not liked by others in the group because of his behavior, he would be more likely to stop since his identity rested in what others thought of him. In order to regain a semblance of his good standing with his friends, he would have to change his behavior so that now not only his peer group would like him again, but also his teacher would be happy with his choices. What a concept!
Poor Mrs. X. If she is still teaching, I hope she is able to find WBT so she can focus more of her time on instruction and less of it on the fruitless task of settling down the rebels.
Hang on just a second while I get into my time travel machine and adjust the date.
Whoooooshhh!
It’s 1992 and I’m watching myself as a 6th grade student through the classroom window.
Choice of clothing, not cool.
Mrs. Cinnamon is teaching math.
Sarah calls out, “I could not be more bored if I tried.”
Sarah’s followers laugh out loud while the rest of the class squirms their seats uncomfortably.
Mrs. Cinnamon says, “Quiet down, Sarah.”
Sarah continues in a whisper, “Put your feet up on your desk if you’re bored.”
Sarah’s followers are happy to comply and proudly put their feet up on their desks.
Mrs. Cinnamon is looking frazzled.
She says “Put your feet down immediately and do your work!”
Two minutes of quiet.
Sarah breaks the silence with, “This is so boring, I think I’m going to die!”
Mrs. Cinnamon ignores her this time.
The class does not.
All eyes are on Sarah.
She falls to the floor and plays dead.
The class is roaring with laughter.
Mrs. Cinnamon rips her glasses off her face and yells, “Get out of my classroom!”
Sarah gets off the floor, saunters out of the classroom and replies, “With pleasure.”
The roaring laughter is even louder now.
Mrs. Cinnamon looks like she is about to explode.
I can’t watch this anymore; It’s back to 2013 for me.
If only poor Mrs. Cinnamon would have known about WBT. Her blood pressure would be lower and her dear student, Sarah, would not be dictating the climate and learning environment of her classroom. Sarah was a high roller back in the day. She led her crew and they followed her no matter what the cost. If this group was put in The Independents, they would either choose to leave the Independent group or harass each other to no end, effectively putting an end to the blatant disrespect and disruption.
Poor Mrs. Cinnamon, she never had the chance to sob those wonderful tears of joy.
Rivky, Wonderfully creative response! I'd like to hear more about why you think the Independents would have been so effective with Sarah's crew. Check out this sentence for a tiny writing error. (Sarah’s followers laugh out loud while the rest of the class squirms their seats uncomfortably.) Here are 15 certification points.
I can specifically remember middle school as being my most unhappy years in education. Middle school students hit that puberty stage and think they know it all! My classmates never raised their hands to speak! They would skip class to see their boyfriend or girlfriend, throw things across the classroom and hit the teacher, or even bully the “unpopular kids”. Recess was a time that everyone cherished because that was when they could just hang out. Unfortunately, recess was the time of day when the majority of the inappropriate behavior was taking place. Girls wanted to watch their boyfriends play football, my teammates and I wanted to practice for that afternoon’s game, or many of the unpopular kids just wanted to have a normal conversation with their classmates. The challenging students would bully these kids just because they were not participating in sports during recess. Being an athlete, very rarely was I picked on in middle school but I had many friends who were not athletes. I hated seeing how my friends were treated but if I tried to stand up for them, the bullying began towards me.
If teachers would have known about the independents when I was in middle school, I think things would have been completely different. Instead of teachers giving us assignments and sitting at their desks, more classroom discussion would have occurred because students would have been engaged and teachers could lead the discussion the way they desired. More support would have been given to the teachers instead of the teachers just sending those challenging students down to the principal just to get them out of the classroom. Students would have actually listened in class instead of throwing things at the teacher. Wanting to be seen as cool would not have been my classmates focus! They would not have wanted to be in the independents group. The independents would have taken away too much recess from those challenging students and this would have really taught them to control their behavior and follow the rules.
I believe students in the past and in the present can benefit from this level 5 of Whole Brain Teaching because it unites the rule followers together and helps them realize they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do. After being placed in the independents group, students would not want to stay in there any longer. This would have been that life lesson that students need to ensure they are friends with people because they have things in common, not because a certain person is popular or seen as cool. The independent group is a great way to teach students early in their life to focus on themselves and on following the rules instead of doing what they see as cool!
Laken, Your personal experiences will help you know when to implement the Independents. When we deal with cliques, it's all about how the group sees the ring leader. They follow the leader because they see the positive response he gets from classmates in a traditional classroom setting. Once we introduce the Independents, the group soon realizes they will also suffer the negative response from classmates as well. It won't be long before they turn on the leader and unite behind the teacher. Here are 20 certification points.
I do not remember rebellious behavior occurring in middle school, though I am certain it did take place at times. A phone call home to the parents of my peers was all it would take for us to pull it together and follow set rules. Parents were very supportive of educators, thus students demonstrated respect consistently.
Knowing what I do about that age group, I can imagine how the Independents level would be powerful in middle school. They thrive on camaraderie. They join teams and clubs. They hang endlessly with their best buddy, in person or via social media. Peer acceptance can make or break their spirit. When this level is put into action, the majority of the class is already behind the teacher’s leadership. The students have two choices, be with the Class or be with the Independents. The easiest choice, the biggest team, is the Class. Those who are Independents come to realize it is an uncomfortable place to be. What I like most about this level is it does not involve whole group consequences. Those who are investing their energies into following the classroom routines and rules as they move through fabulous curriculum do not have to suffer the punishment of others.
Catherine, Well stated! I appreciate your comment, "Those who are investing their energies into following the classroom routines and rules as they move through fabulous curriculum do not have to suffer the punishment of others." Yes! Here are 25 points for you!
When I was back in middle school, I can remember those few “mean girls” who ran the 7th grade by making other girls miserable. They were a group of 5 or 6 cheerleaders who had nothing better to do but harass their peers and teachers. Although there wasn’t a lot of backtalking towards the teachers specifically but the attitude was there. If my teachers had been introduced to the methods of Whole Brain Teaching, I bet a lot of the misery they caused could have been avoided. These girls had fights among themselves on a daily basis. The only thing that they were all united in was their torture of other students. I can just imagine what would have happened had they been grouped together and one had given the teacher attitude thus getting the rest of them in trouble too. Oh, I can just see the claws flying now! The independents would have played them against one another, even just one period a day. Looking at my classes now, I can see how pulling the ring leaders into their own group would squelch their power quickly and the faithful students would be rewarded for not being part of it.
In my middle school years, I might have been one of the kids on Independent Island. I was a follower and struggled to follow rule number 2. I was a constant talker when I wasn’t supposed to be. As I recall it wasn’t always social talking, I often was so excited to share what I was thinking or what we were learning. Before I realized it, I had others off task with talking as well.
The Independents is a group where the teacher wants to single out a group of students who may be souring the other students. This group has gone through the scoreboard, practice cards, SIT, and the teacher is ready to employ the next level. This level takes a group of kids and turns their behaviors that were effecting the entire class, to only affecting their group. The teacher quietly alerts the group members that they have been put in their own group on the scoreboard and tells the class that they are no longer held back by the behaviors of a select group, it turns people in cliques against each other. Any time a person in the group struggles, they all suffer the consequences. One breaks a rule, they have a white rule card pulled. Since no one wants to earn a practice card and take time from recess, they begin to speak up to the rule breakers. This shows the students that actions of one person in a group have negative consequences. This is a very important life lesson they need to learn. After being in the group for a day, all they have to say is that they don’t want to be in the independent group anymore. The next day they are given the chance to change their behaviors. If their behaviors warrant further grouping they will go back into the Independents group. This life lesson was something I learned myself. As an adult I shy away from the negative actions of others to create my own positive atmosphere. When sitting at a table of chatty people, I will ignore their behaviors and remove myself from the situation in order to show I do not tolerate others taking away from my learning. This is the same behaviors we teach our students when we follow this plan. I hope in my classroom I don’t have to rise to this level, but I know if I need it, it is a level that puts more positive students behind the teacher and takes the audience and support from the most challenging students.
Krystal, Nice job! This is one clique that falls apart pretty fast! Because of two editing errors, I can only award you 10 points for this post. "... turns their behaviors that were effecting the entire class, to only affecting their group." "The teacher quietly alerts the group members that they have been put in their own group on the scoreboard and tells the class that they are no longer held back by the behaviors of a select group, it turns people in cliques against each other."
Thinking back to when I was in junior high, I can distinctly remember small groups of Independents clustering together in my classes. I remember them making jokes and challenging statements during classroom discussions and lectures. The leader’s cronies laughed mischievously at his/her jokes and relished in the power they held to halt the flow of class. I also distinctly remember being very annoyed by them! Level Five of the Scoreboard (The Independents) would have been very effective in class to take the power from those rowdy students and give it back to the teacher and well behaved students. These Independents, like others in their class, are attempting to meet their five needs as described in Glasser’s Choice Theory. Unfortunately, they are choosing negative behaviors to meet their needs. Level Five of the Scoreboard prevents them from being able to meet their desires in a negative fashion. It encourages them to meet their needs only by means of positive choices. It does not punish, scold, or challenge those few students grouping together. My teacher would often point out these students and only caused more chaos. As Coach B says, she was “spitting in [her] soup” by making a bad situation worse. Level Five simply takes away El Supremo’s power. When El Supremo can no longer fuel the Followers and Bottom Dwellers, the group ceases to exist. Not to mention, the student only has to stay in this group for one day. After this time, they can choose to leave the group if they so desire. Level Five divides and conquers. Ordinarily, the El Supremo leader of the Independents feeds upon the Followers. The Followers, in turn, feed upon the Bottom Dwellers, which feed upon themselves! Given the opportunity, the Independents follow the lead of the El Supremo against an authority figure. Level Five systematically turns them against each other instead of their peers and teacher. They hate having to receive White Cards for another member’s negative choices. They no longer want to be associated with the members of the Independents because they see how this behavior is no longer beneficial. They should understand that being associated with the wrong group of people can have damaging effects on their future. The “actions by even one member of the group can have a negative effect on everyone in the group” (132). It is for these reasons that I am sure Level Five would have been effective then and will be effective now in the classroom.
My husband teaches middle school and we were just talking about this very thing. He constantly complains about how poor the students’ behavior is on a daily basis. I told him to use Whole Brain Teaching techniques and he tells me that it would not work. How do you know if you do not try?
I also recall a time back when I was younger. There was one student who always harassed me. He would sit behind me and bother me to the point of tears. I would dread going to this class. The teacher did absolutely nothing, like she did not know that it was going on. Nobody stopped it. If this teacher had used a strategy like the Independents, I might have been able to learn a thing or two from this class. This boy would have learned that his actions were not acceptable. The rest of the class would have learned this as well.
Middle school is all about cliques and fitting in. One student misbehaves and other students laugh. The students that are there to learn get the raw end of the deal. Using the Independents strategy, these few students would see that it is not okay to be disrespectful. Their behavior is isolated from the rest of the class and they will realize that their choices have consequences. One of the best things about this strategy is that the students who have followed your rules all along are not going to be punished for the behaviors of others.
Elissa, With your personal experiences, you can empathize with the frustration students feel when disrespect is tolerated by adults and peers. Nice job! Here are 25 points!
As soon as I read about Independents, a certain group of kids came to mind. The Mean Girls, every school has them and my middle school was no different. The mean girls I remember were a very typical group of independents. They were pretty, well dressed, and of course popular. Any class I was in with them was a nightmare. I was the shy, quite, teacher’s pet and they tortured anyone who tried to learn, or so it seemed. I don’t recall any teachers using any strategies other than ignore, yell, and maybe send them out of the room. These teachers could have really used some WBT structures to help their classroom management skills.
I, as a normal 13 year old wanted to be part of that clique. They were the ones having fun, they had friends, and the boys in the class laughed and played along with their antics. The Independents would have helped me and others realize that their rebellious behavior was nothing to be envied. The Independents probably would have helped rein in the boisterous mean girls. By putting those independent students in a separate category, they would have begun to pit themselves against each other rather than the teacher. (I would have loved to see that!) The La Suprema would have been shocked to hear her followers turn against her. They would not deem it “fair” to be punished for the fault of one in the group. I can almost hear the divide occurring. Another benefit of the Independents would have been establishing a strong support system with the rest of the class. Any teacher using this would have been able to gain more respect from me and the other ‘good’ students. Seeing a teacher, someone I looked up to and respected, stand up to these rebels and cease to tolerate their behavior, and follow-through with the consequences would have made a huge impact on me. Other rebel students would have seen the teacher was a force to be reckoned with. I would have no longer wanted to join their clique but seen it for what it truly was.
I remember middle school as being a place where your reputation was based on others’ opinions of you. A mean girl or any other rebel placed in the Independents would be more likely to stop and/or change their behavior if they were suddenly seen differently by others for their challenging behavior. The Independents is a level that is not always needed, but when used is a successful behavior management tool and a way for students to understand that they need to choose carefully whom to associate themselves with.
Sara, Independents really makes a difference if you need to initiate it in your class. Nice post. You had one small error near the beginning: "I was the shy, quite, teacher’s pet..." Here are 20 points!
Although I was not in a typical American middle school, we had the same issues in South Africa; a handful of kids made life difficult for their teachers and peers. Some teachers threatened to quit, and a group of student teachers refused to finish their student-teaching time. They left early complaining about the unruly kids in our school. The rest of us quietly endured our classmates, knowing them to be in the wrong, but not knowing what to do about it.
I think that the Independents Level would have worked wonders in our classroom, because as the book states: “The normal, galvanizing polarity of the rebel clique is Us against Outsiders. However, by putting a few rebel students into the Independent group together, the polarity becomes Us against Us”. The members in the Independents group are suddenly all being held accountable for the behavior of all members in the group. They all receive the frownie, and they all receive the white card for unacceptable behavior. No one, no matter if complaint or challenging, wants to receive the consequences for someone else’s unacceptable behavior. The Independents Game is very effective because the focus turns from “us” to “me” in an effort to avoid the consequences. The core of the group is shaken and the hierarchy suddenly does not matter anymore, thus the power of the clique is broken.
I really like the fact that the students do not have to stay in the Independents group for more than one day. When they are ready to take responsibility for their actions and join the rest of their classmates, who are making smart choices, they are allowed to ask the teacher to be removed from the group. Their willingness to turn from the clique shows independence and ownership for their own behavior. This is a life lesson that is better learned at a young age, than later in life.
WBT Pioneer, This shows that kids are quite similar. Whether in South Africa or America, they can all benefit from WBT strategies! You are right, this does help them claim ownership for their behavior. Good job! Here are your 25 certification points
Wow, middle school how long ago that was! I do not remember specific rebels disrupting our classes. However, I know like teachers of yesterday today's teachers from every grade level suffer with “Independents.” I had a group in my 1st grade class last year, the tormenting ten. I have even seen Independents among the staff I work with! In groups of every age there are leaders, followers and bottom dwellers. In society wouldn’t it be great if we could address these Independents like we can in our classrooms. I believe it would stop the obnoxious behavior that we might experience. In middle school, students are so worried about how others see them if they are cool, good looking, etc., that I can see how playing them against each other could at least stop the behavior in classrooms. I love the line in the book when talking with parents telling them I need my students to learn the very important life lesson that if they choose the wrong group, actions by even one member of the group can have a negative effect on everyone in the group. This is such an important lesson students need to learn. I also like that a student just needs to ask to be removed from this group. It may take some students a few times of being in the Independents group to change their behavior, but I do feel this will change some student behavior if even during class. With the Independents being level five on the scoreboard, it gives students multiple opportunities before being placed in this group to change their behavior. Last year, prior to my knowledge of WBT, there were times that I did “punish” the whole class out of frustration for behaviors of a few. That never felt right for the students that consistently followed rules and procedures. By separating the Independents, the appropriate individuals will reap what they sow.
Terri, You are right, there are "Independents" in every age group! I agree that it doesn't feel right to punish the whole class for the behaviors of a few. That is why this level is so helpful! Hopefully you won't have a "tormenting ten" group again this year, but if you do, now you have a wonderful strategy to use! You had a few minor punctuation errors, and need to revise this sentence: "I love the line in the book when talking with parents..." Here are 10 certification points!
When I think back to my middle school years and imagine teachers using the Scoreboard and Independents, I think of my brother, Brian. Brian struggled as many middle school boys do with choosing the right crowd. He tested into the gifted program in the fourth grade, but quickly learned that being gifted was not necessarily a cool status with his group of friends, so he stopped attending the advanced classes. The more he hung out with these “friends,” the more trouble Brian found himself in and it became a terribly vicious cycle. Had a teacher been implementing the Scoreboard and given Brian the opportunity to be an Independent, it quite possibly would have changed everything for him. Coach B. says that his methods are “games and funtricity,” but they are also so much more than that. Whole Brain Teaching techniques are well-designed tools developed to give students choices and independence. When in a Whole Brain Teaching classroom, students learn about real life experiences and make choices that can affect their entire lives. I now look back on my teaching career and mourn for the “Brians” in my classes all those years, wishing I could turn back the clock and handle them differently. In the past I might have looked at my class roster and thought, “Oh no, another Brian.” I now look forward to getting as many “Brians” as possible because I am equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to help them become their best and make smart choices.
Sandy, I appreciate you sharing your "Brian" story. I agree that the opportunity to be an Independent, if even for a day, can change how a child views his behavior and how he views his "friends". Here are 25 certification points!
Although middle school was many, many moons ago, I think that applying the strategy of the Independents would have been effective. There are always groups of students that push the envelope, trying to get attention. When I think of some of those students, I wonder why they feel the need to be in the Leader, Follower or Bottom Dweller group. What makes them want to be part of a group that thrives on humiliation and intimidation? These cliques were alive and well when I was in school, when my three sons went through school, and now in my own classroom. Obviously, they are a part of adolescence. Since these groups have been, and apparently, will always be a thorn in our side, it is nice to have the Independents strategy for back up behavior management.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that it would have been shocking to the rebel clique in my middle school when they realized were put together in the Independent group. It would have also been frustrating for them when they realized they were going to suffer the consequences for the actions of their team members. It may have caused some dissention among the members at first, but I think that they would have eventually realized that unless they conformed to appropriate behavior, they would pay the price. In the chapter, Coach Biffle stated “…if they choose the wrong group, actions by even one member of the group can have a negative effect on everyone in the group”. (132) This would have been an important lesson for these students to learn.
I can recall one group of boys in my middle school that tended to disrupt everything, from class to assemblies by yelling out and using an obnoxious whistle. It would have been interesting to see this strategy in play to see how they would have reacted. I imagine that they would have been somewhat embarrassed, and also felt a little of their power was removed. By removing their captive audience, and their power to penalize the innocent students in the room, would have really removed most of their arsenal. It would have probably worked better than the strategy of sitting them in the hall that was commonly used.
Hopefully, I won’t have to use this level of behavior management, but I’m glad to have it available if needed. With the pressure to join gangs that my students have, even in fifth grade, I think this might be a way to remind them that who you choose to associate with has consequences.
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteThank you for including personal experiences in your post. I hope you don't have to use Independents this year, but have it ready if necessary! Be careful of editing errors in your next post. (I can imagine that it would have been shocking to the rebel clique in my middle school when they realized were put together in the Independent group. dissention/dissension) Here are 10 points.
When I was in middle school times were quite different than today in that I was in middle school in the 60’s when parents and schools shared a mutual respect. There was little chance that a problem at school would not result in a swift resolution at home. Most of my peers would have wanted to get off “Independent Island” as quickly as possible to avoid any further fallout when the news made its way home. Middle school kids are fickle and by the second hour on the island my peers would have been ready to get back onto the “mainland”. I remember those days when clicks changed frequently. The independents would have been divided and conquered very effectively using the WBT strategy.
ReplyDeleteWhen my own children were in middle school in the early 90’s this strategy would have been very effective and would have led to much more learning for the students in my sons’ classrooms. By this time in history, many parents didn’t have any idea what was going on with their child and even blamed the school for the problems. Disruptive students were frequently allowed to set the tone for the learning environment. These students were most often dealt with in one of two extreme methods: totally ignoring what the students were doing or confronting them in front of the class and escalating the behaviors. Both strategies led to giving strength to the offenders and their followers. Independents would have been an excellent behavior tool to get those students back on task and at the same time provide a way for them to save face. In middle school the independents strategy is a great way to help students who have made a bad choice not become comfortable in that classroom role and thus become habitual offenders. It is a learning tool because it very clearly establishes which behaviors are acceptable, which behaviors are unacceptable and what is required to make a behavior change. The emphasis is on the choice the student or students made and how those choices impacted their participation in the classroom environment as a whole. This strategy returns the classroom to the teacher and an atmosphere of learning to the students. It’s a mighty tool and deserves a Mighty Oh Yeah!
Kathy,
DeleteWell stated post on Independents. You had a minor vocab error, click/clique. Here are 20 points and a 5 point Bonus!
We did not have what’s called middle school back in my day. It would have been the 1960s when I was in the grades now considered middle school, and let me tell you, school was very different back then. We had an enforced dress code and an enforced rule of conduct. In addition, not only did we get in trouble at school, but we also would get in trouble at home. Therefore, we didn’t have a lot of the problems that schools face today. But if we did, I can see where the Independents could have been very beneficial to the teachers
ReplyDeleteUsing the Independents, students in that group would be learning about making good and bad choices. When a student chooses to join the rebels, he needs to understand that he will be blamed for any infraction whether or not he was the cause of it. This is true in real life, too. When you join with the wrong group, you are also held responsible by association. This is an important lesson for students to learn. Back in my day, I’m sure any student put in the Independent group would want to get out of it as soon as possible because of the punishments at school and at home.
By the time my daughters reached middle school in the 1990s, the Independents would have been more useful than during my day. By the 1990s, kids were more disrespectful, and parents often did not support the teachers. By using the Independents, students would learn a valuable life skill--the choices you make have consequences whether good or bad.
Now in the present time, I wish I would have known about this strategy last year. I had a group of boys who gave me a run for my money. There was definitely a leader with the followers. With the Independents, it would have been very helpful to get the followers out of the group leaving the leader by himself.
I’m hoping next school not to have to use level five, but if I do, I’m awfully thankful for it!
Cheryl,
DeleteAnother great post! I hope your class this year doesn't warrant this level either! Here are 25 points for you!
When I look back to my school days, admittedly a long time ago, I cannot recall a student disrespecting the teacher. Corporal punishment was still common practice and you did what you were told to do. Teachers were correct and if you misbehaved at school, you were also punished at home. Parents did not question the authority of the teacher.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, corporal punishment is harsh and very negative. If teachers had incorporated independents, then some of the mischief would have been curtailed.
I like the fact that students who support one another’s misbehavior are assigned as being independents. Having students to work together to earn points and not lose points is powerful, especially for the student who was actually behaving. Students will learn a valuable life lesson on how to choose their friends or company carefully. I like how students can opt out of the independent group after a day. When the support system fails, students will learn to conform to the rules and begin having fun in school.
Schools have come along way in how they correct students’ misbehavior. Whole Brain Teaching is the most positive way of instilling correct behavior in the classroom. No student is singled out with excessive negative attention but is held to the standards set high from the first day of class. Students respond much better to positive reinforcement than to negative. The various levels of the scoreboard can correspond to the myriad misbehavior that can occur within the classroom. The independent level is for those students who cannot grasp the concepts of acceptable behavior and have to work on that behavior independent of the class. The class does not pay for the deeds of a few. What a win, win, situation.
Debora Manuel
Debora,
DeleteNice job! Yes, this method is a win, win situation! Here are 25 points!
I am in a unique situation as I teach in the same middle school I attended approximately 17 years ago. I actually work with some of my own teachers! Middle school was an overall great experience and I truly love the school as a student and now as a teacher. When I think back to my student years I actually cannot think of a time when I saw or heard clear disrespect from my classmates. Of course students may have been talking when they shouldn’t have, or been too loud in the hallways, but nothing too severe. Although, the few students who did misbehave in class would have been brought to silence quickly using the Independents strategy. The idea of being grouped together with other rule-breakers and suffering the consequences of their actions is a real-world learning experience. Students must realize that they do and will be linked with the people who they associate with, whether positive or negative. Middle school is a prime time to learn this truth. I think the idea of having the option to remove your self from the group is brilliant! Having the option provides no excuses and teaches ‘choices have consequences’ again and again if proven necessary. This strategy would work quite well and prove to be an effective discipline tool in Forest Middle, past and present!
ReplyDeleteAmanda,
DeleteThat is really great that you get to personally see the changes in your school, from student to teacher! Here are 25 points!
Thinking back to my middle school years, I can really remember two or three students that I would have called rebels. All three were female, and they fed on the torture of others. They were what I would call “part of the rough crowd” and what WBT calls a “clique of students.” Growing up in a small community, unfortunately, meant you were in small classes, too. I rode the bus with these girls, ate lunch at the same time as them, and was in all of their classes. They fed off of each other, and their behavior carried over into the classroom. If only my teachers had been wise to the ways of Whole Brain Teaching! Independents Scoreboard Level Five would definitely have worked like a charm with them. I know the rest of the class would have been grateful not to be punished for the girls’ actions, and these girls would have quickly learned the importance of separating themselves from situations that were getting them into trouble. One mean-spirited rebel, who loved harassing others, led this group of girls. Together, they preyed on weaker, more timid students, like me. The Independent level would have played one student against the others, because when one misbehaved, they would have all gotten into trouble. This would have, most certainly, evaporated the clique. My friends and I would have bonded more and supported the teacher wholeheartedly. I remember one time, in seventh grade, when the whole class was punished and not allowed to go outside because of these girls. This would never have happened with “The Independents!”
ReplyDeleteMelinda Sprinkle
Melinda,
DeleteYour personal experiences will definitely lead you in positive ways with your classes! Nice job! Here are 25 points!
Oh Middle School. How I DON’T miss you. Though the students were rough, I had excellent teachers, except for one. She couldn’t keep her class from acting out if her life depended on it. I was one of the few students who sat quietly and tried to learn, but because of her lack of classroom management skills, I learned very little. What bothered me the most was not the rebellious students but her lack of control over them. She really could have used WBT!
ReplyDeleteIn that class, the Independents probably would have helped rein in the boisterous rebels. By putting those independent students in a separate category, they would have begun to pit themselves against each other rather than the teacher. They would not deem it “fair” to be punished for the fault of one in the group. Also, by establishing a strong support with the rest of the class, the teacher would have been able to gain more respect from the good students as well as the Independents. Everyone would have seen her stand up to the rebels, not tolerate their behavior, and follow-through with the consequences. Good students would have gained more respect and admiration, and rebel students would have seen she was a force to be reckoned with.
In Middle School, everything depended on others’ opinions of you. If a person in the Independents was suddenly not liked by others in the group because of his behavior, he would be more likely to stop since his identity rested in what others thought of him. In order to regain a semblance of his good standing with his friends, he would have to change his behavior so that now not only his peer group would like him again, but also his teacher would be happy with his choices. What a concept!
Poor Mrs. X. If she is still teaching, I hope she is able to find WBT so she can focus more of her time on instruction and less of it on the fruitless task of settling down the rebels.
Meredith Pearson
Meredith,
DeleteWell said! We can be assured we will never see Mrs. X in your classroom! Here are 25 points and a 5 point Bonus!
Hang on just a second while I get into my time travel machine and adjust the date.
ReplyDeleteWhoooooshhh!
It’s 1992 and I’m watching myself as a 6th grade student through the classroom window.
Choice of clothing, not cool.
Mrs. Cinnamon is teaching math.
Sarah calls out, “I could not be more bored if I tried.”
Sarah’s followers laugh out loud while the rest of the class squirms their seats uncomfortably.
Mrs. Cinnamon says, “Quiet down, Sarah.”
Sarah continues in a whisper, “Put your feet up on your desk if you’re bored.”
Sarah’s followers are happy to comply and proudly put their feet up on their desks.
Mrs. Cinnamon is looking frazzled.
She says “Put your feet down immediately and do your work!”
Two minutes of quiet.
Sarah breaks the silence with, “This is so boring, I think I’m going to die!”
Mrs. Cinnamon ignores her this time.
The class does not.
All eyes are on Sarah.
She falls to the floor and plays dead.
The class is roaring with laughter.
Mrs. Cinnamon rips her glasses off her face and yells, “Get out of my classroom!”
Sarah gets off the floor, saunters out of the classroom and replies, “With pleasure.”
The roaring laughter is even louder now.
Mrs. Cinnamon looks like she is about to explode.
I can’t watch this anymore; It’s back to 2013 for me.
If only poor Mrs. Cinnamon would have known about WBT. Her blood pressure would be lower and her dear student, Sarah, would not be dictating the climate and learning environment of her classroom. Sarah was a high roller back in the day. She led her crew and they followed her no matter what the cost. If this group was put in The Independents, they would either choose to leave the Independent group or harass each other to no end, effectively putting an end to the blatant disrespect and disruption.
Poor Mrs. Cinnamon, she never had the chance to sob those wonderful tears of joy.
Sniffle.
Rivky Greenberger
Rivky,
DeleteWonderfully creative response! I'd like to hear more about why you think the Independents would have been so effective with Sarah's crew. Check out this sentence for a tiny writing error. (Sarah’s followers laugh out loud while the rest of the class squirms their seats uncomfortably.) Here are 15 certification points.
I can specifically remember middle school as being my most unhappy years in education. Middle school students hit that puberty stage and think they know it all! My classmates never raised their hands to speak! They would skip class to see their boyfriend or girlfriend, throw things across the classroom and hit the teacher, or even bully the “unpopular kids”. Recess was a time that everyone cherished because that was when they could just hang out. Unfortunately, recess was the time of day when the majority of the inappropriate behavior was taking place. Girls wanted to watch their boyfriends play football, my teammates and I wanted to practice for that afternoon’s game, or many of the unpopular kids just wanted to have a normal conversation with their classmates. The challenging students would bully these kids just because they were not participating in sports during recess. Being an athlete, very rarely was I picked on in middle school but I had many friends who were not athletes. I hated seeing how my friends were treated but if I tried to stand up for them, the bullying began towards me.
ReplyDeleteIf teachers would have known about the independents when I was in middle school, I think things would have been completely different. Instead of teachers giving us assignments and sitting at their desks, more classroom discussion would have occurred because students would have been engaged and teachers could lead the discussion the way they desired. More support would have been given to the teachers instead of the teachers just sending those challenging students down to the principal just to get them out of the classroom. Students would have actually listened in class instead of throwing things at the teacher. Wanting to be seen as cool would not have been my classmates focus! They would not have wanted to be in the independents group. The independents would have taken away too much recess from those challenging students and this would have really taught them to control their behavior and follow the rules.
I believe students in the past and in the present can benefit from this level 5 of Whole Brain Teaching because it unites the rule followers together and helps them realize they are doing exactly what they are supposed to do. After being placed in the independents group, students would not want to stay in there any longer. This would have been that life lesson that students need to ensure they are friends with people because they have things in common, not because a certain person is popular or seen as cool. The independent group is a great way to teach students early in their life to focus on themselves and on following the rules instead of doing what they see as cool!
Laken,
DeleteYour personal experiences will help you know when to implement the Independents. When we deal with cliques, it's all about how the group sees the ring leader. They follow the leader because they see the positive response he gets from classmates in a traditional classroom setting. Once we introduce the Independents, the group soon realizes they will also suffer the negative response from classmates as well. It won't be long before they turn on the leader and unite behind the teacher. Here are 20 certification points.
I do not remember rebellious behavior occurring in middle school, though I am certain it did take place at times. A phone call home to the parents of my peers was all it would take for us to pull it together and follow set rules. Parents were very supportive of educators, thus students demonstrated respect consistently.
ReplyDeleteKnowing what I do about that age group, I can imagine how the Independents level would be powerful in middle school. They thrive on camaraderie. They join teams and clubs. They hang endlessly with their best buddy, in person or via social media. Peer acceptance can make or break their spirit. When this level is put into action, the majority of the class is already behind the teacher’s leadership. The students have two choices, be with the Class or be with the Independents. The easiest choice, the biggest team, is the Class. Those who are Independents come to realize it is an uncomfortable place to be. What I like most about this level is it does not involve whole group consequences. Those who are investing their energies into following the classroom routines and rules as they move through fabulous curriculum do not have to suffer the punishment of others.
Catherine,
DeleteWell stated! I appreciate your comment, "Those who are investing their energies into following the classroom routines and rules as they move through fabulous curriculum do not have to suffer the punishment of others." Yes! Here are 25 points for you!
When I was back in middle school, I can remember those few “mean girls” who ran the 7th grade by making other girls miserable. They were a group of 5 or 6 cheerleaders who had nothing better to do but harass their peers and teachers. Although there wasn’t a lot of backtalking towards the teachers specifically but the attitude was there. If my teachers had been introduced to the methods of Whole Brain Teaching, I bet a lot of the misery they caused could have been avoided. These girls had fights among themselves on a daily basis. The only thing that they were all united in was their torture of other students. I can just imagine what would have happened had they been grouped together and one had given the teacher attitude thus getting the rest of them in trouble too. Oh, I can just see the claws flying now! The independents would have played them against one another, even just one period a day. Looking at my classes now, I can see how pulling the ring leaders into their own group would squelch their power quickly and the faithful students would be rewarded for not being part of it.
ReplyDeleteGwenn weston
Gwenn,
DeleteIt's kind of like using the clique's own rules against them, isn't it? Here are 25 certification points for you!
In my middle school years, I might have been one of the kids on Independent Island. I was a follower and struggled to follow rule number 2. I was a constant talker when I wasn’t supposed to be. As I recall it wasn’t always social talking, I often was so excited to share what I was thinking or what we were learning. Before I realized it, I had others off task with talking as well.
ReplyDeleteThe Independents is a group where the teacher wants to single out a group of students who may be souring the other students. This group has gone through the scoreboard, practice cards, SIT, and the teacher is ready to employ the next level. This level takes a group of kids and turns their behaviors that were effecting the entire class, to only affecting their group. The teacher quietly alerts the group members that they have been put in their own group on the scoreboard and tells the class that they are no longer held back by the behaviors of a select group, it turns people in cliques against each other.
Any time a person in the group struggles, they all suffer the consequences. One breaks a rule, they have a white rule card pulled. Since no one wants to earn a practice card and take time from recess, they begin to speak up to the rule breakers. This shows the students that actions of one person in a group have negative consequences. This is a very important life lesson they need to learn.
After being in the group for a day, all they have to say is that they don’t want to be in the independent group anymore. The next day they are given the chance to change their behaviors. If their behaviors warrant further grouping they will go back into the Independents group.
This life lesson was something I learned myself. As an adult I shy away from the negative actions of others to create my own positive atmosphere. When sitting at a table of chatty people, I will ignore their behaviors and remove myself from the situation in order to show I do not tolerate others taking away from my learning. This is the same behaviors we teach our students when we follow this plan.
I hope in my classroom I don’t have to rise to this level, but I know if I need it, it is a level that puts more positive students behind the teacher and takes the audience and support from the most challenging students.
Krystal,
ReplyDeleteNice job! This is one clique that falls apart pretty fast! Because of two editing errors, I can only award you 10 points for this post. "... turns their behaviors that were effecting the entire class, to only affecting their group." "The teacher quietly alerts the group members that they have been put in their own group on the scoreboard and tells the class that they are no longer held back by the behaviors of a select group, it turns people in cliques against each other."
Thinking back to when I was in junior high, I can distinctly remember small groups of Independents clustering together in my classes. I remember them making jokes and challenging statements during classroom discussions and lectures. The leader’s cronies laughed mischievously at his/her jokes and relished in the power they held to halt the flow of class. I also distinctly remember being very annoyed by them! Level Five of the Scoreboard (The Independents) would have been very effective in class to take the power from those rowdy students and give it back to the teacher and well behaved students.
ReplyDeleteThese Independents, like others in their class, are attempting to meet their five needs as described in Glasser’s Choice Theory. Unfortunately, they are choosing negative behaviors to meet their needs. Level Five of the Scoreboard prevents them from being able to meet their desires in a negative fashion. It encourages them to meet their needs only by means of positive choices. It does not punish, scold, or challenge those few students grouping together. My teacher would often point out these students and only caused more chaos. As Coach B says, she was “spitting in [her] soup” by making a bad situation worse. Level Five simply takes away El Supremo’s power. When El Supremo can no longer fuel the Followers and Bottom Dwellers, the group ceases to exist. Not to mention, the student only has to stay in this group for one day. After this time, they can choose to leave the group if they so desire.
Level Five divides and conquers. Ordinarily, the El Supremo leader of the Independents feeds upon the Followers. The Followers, in turn, feed upon the Bottom Dwellers, which feed upon themselves! Given the opportunity, the Independents follow the lead of the El Supremo against an authority figure. Level Five systematically turns them against each other instead of their peers and teacher. They hate having to receive White Cards for another member’s negative choices. They no longer want to be associated with the members of the Independents because they see how this behavior is no longer beneficial. They should understand that being associated with the wrong group of people can have damaging effects on their future. The “actions by even one member of the group can have a negative effect on everyone in the group” (132). It is for these reasons that I am sure Level Five would have been effective then and will be effective now in the classroom.
Jennifer,
DeleteGood reflection! It's kind of reverse psychology, isn't it? Here are 25 certification points plus 5 BONUS POINTS!
My husband teaches middle school and we were just talking about this very thing. He constantly complains about how poor the students’ behavior is on a daily basis. I told him to use Whole Brain Teaching techniques and he tells me that it would not work. How do you know if you do not try?
ReplyDeleteI also recall a time back when I was younger. There was one student who always harassed me. He would sit behind me and bother me to the point of tears. I would dread going to this class. The teacher did absolutely nothing, like she did not know that it was going on. Nobody stopped it. If this teacher had used a strategy like the Independents, I might have been able to learn a thing or two from this class. This boy would have learned that his actions were not acceptable. The rest of the class would have learned this as well.
Middle school is all about cliques and fitting in. One student misbehaves and other students laugh. The students that are there to learn get the raw end of the deal. Using the Independents strategy, these few students would see that it is not okay to be disrespectful. Their behavior is isolated from the rest of the class and they will realize that their choices have consequences. One of the best things about this strategy is that the students who have followed your rules all along are not going to be punished for the behaviors of others.
Elissa,
DeleteWith your personal experiences, you can empathize with the frustration students feel when disrespect is tolerated by adults and peers. Nice job! Here are 25 points!
As soon as I read about Independents, a certain group of kids came to mind. The Mean Girls, every school has them and my middle school was no different. The mean girls I remember were a very typical group of independents. They were pretty, well dressed, and of course popular. Any class I was in with them was a nightmare. I was the shy, quite, teacher’s pet and they tortured anyone who tried to learn, or so it seemed. I don’t recall any teachers using any strategies other than ignore, yell, and maybe send them out of the room. These teachers could have really used some WBT structures to help their classroom management skills.
ReplyDeleteI, as a normal 13 year old wanted to be part of that clique. They were the ones having fun, they had friends, and the boys in the class laughed and played along with their antics. The Independents would have helped me and others realize that their rebellious behavior was nothing to be envied. The Independents probably would have helped rein in the boisterous mean girls. By putting those independent students in a separate category, they would have begun to pit themselves against each other rather than the teacher. (I would have loved to see that!) The La Suprema would have been shocked to hear her followers turn against her. They would not deem it “fair” to be punished for the fault of one in the group. I can almost hear the divide occurring. Another benefit of the Independents would have been establishing a strong support system with the rest of the class. Any teacher using this would have been able to gain more respect from me and the other ‘good’ students. Seeing a teacher, someone I looked up to and respected, stand up to these rebels and cease to tolerate their behavior, and follow-through with the consequences would have made a huge impact on me. Other rebel students would have seen the teacher was a force to be reckoned with. I would have no longer wanted to join their clique but seen it for what it truly was.
I remember middle school as being a place where your reputation was based on others’ opinions of you. A mean girl or any other rebel placed in the Independents would be more likely to stop and/or change their behavior if they were suddenly seen differently by others for their challenging behavior. The Independents is a level that is not always needed, but when used is a successful behavior management tool and a way for students to understand that they need to choose carefully whom to associate themselves with.
Sara Martin
Sara,
ReplyDeleteIndependents really makes a difference if you need to initiate it in your class. Nice post. You had one small error near the beginning: "I was the shy, quite, teacher’s pet..." Here are 20 points!
Although I was not in a typical American middle school, we had the same issues in South Africa; a handful of kids made life difficult for their teachers and peers. Some teachers threatened to quit, and a group of student teachers refused to finish their student-teaching time. They left early complaining about the unruly kids in our school. The rest of us quietly endured our classmates, knowing them to be in the wrong, but not knowing what to do about it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Independents Level would have worked wonders in our classroom, because as the book states: “The normal, galvanizing polarity of the rebel clique is Us against Outsiders. However, by putting a few rebel students into the Independent group together, the polarity becomes Us against Us”. The members in the Independents group are suddenly all being held accountable for the behavior of all members in the group. They all receive the frownie, and they all receive the white card for unacceptable behavior. No one, no matter if complaint or challenging, wants to receive the consequences for someone else’s unacceptable behavior. The Independents Game is very effective because the focus turns from “us” to “me” in an effort to avoid the consequences. The core of the group is shaken and the hierarchy suddenly does not matter anymore, thus the power of the clique is broken.
I really like the fact that the students do not have to stay in the Independents group for more than one day. When they are ready to take responsibility for their actions and join the rest of their classmates, who are making smart choices, they are allowed to ask the teacher to be removed from the group. Their willingness to turn from the clique shows independence and ownership for their own behavior. This is a life lesson that is better learned at a young age, than later in life.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWBT Pioneer,
DeleteThis shows that kids are quite similar. Whether in South Africa or America, they can all benefit from WBT strategies! You are right, this does help them claim ownership for their behavior. Good job! Here are your 25 certification points
August 15, 2013
ReplyDeleteChapter 20 – The Independents
Wow, middle school how long ago that was! I do not remember specific rebels disrupting our classes. However, I know like teachers of yesterday today's teachers from every grade level suffer with “Independents.” I had a group in my 1st grade class last year, the tormenting ten. I have even seen Independents among the staff I work with! In groups of every age there are leaders, followers and bottom dwellers. In society wouldn’t it be great if we could address these Independents like we can in our classrooms. I believe it would stop the obnoxious behavior that we might experience.
In middle school, students are so worried about how others see them if they are cool, good looking, etc., that I can see how playing them against each other could at least stop the behavior in classrooms. I love the line in the book when talking with parents telling them I need my students to learn the very important life lesson that if they choose the wrong group, actions by even one member of the group can have a negative effect on everyone in the group. This is such an important lesson students need to learn. I also like that a student just needs to ask to be removed from this group. It may take some students a few times of being in the Independents group to change their behavior, but I do feel this will change some student behavior if even during class. With the Independents being level five on the scoreboard, it gives students multiple opportunities before being placed in this group to change their behavior. Last year, prior to my knowledge of WBT, there were times that I did “punish” the whole class out of frustration for behaviors of a few. That never felt right for the students that consistently followed rules and procedures. By separating the Independents, the appropriate individuals will reap what they sow.
Terri,
ReplyDeleteYou are right, there are "Independents" in every age group! I agree that it doesn't feel right to punish the whole class for the behaviors of a few. That is why this level is so helpful! Hopefully you won't have a "tormenting ten" group again this year, but if you do, now you have a wonderful strategy to use! You had a few minor punctuation errors, and need to revise this sentence: "I love the line in the book when talking with parents..." Here are 10 certification points!
When I think back to my middle school years and imagine teachers using the Scoreboard and Independents, I think of my brother, Brian. Brian struggled as many middle school boys do with choosing the right crowd. He tested into the gifted program in the fourth grade, but quickly learned that being gifted was not necessarily a cool status with his group of friends, so he stopped attending the advanced classes. The more he hung out with these “friends,” the more trouble Brian found himself in and it became a terribly vicious cycle. Had a teacher been implementing the Scoreboard and given Brian the opportunity to be an Independent, it quite possibly would have changed everything for him. Coach B. says that his methods are “games and funtricity,” but they are also so much more than that. Whole Brain Teaching techniques are well-designed tools developed to give students choices and independence. When in a Whole Brain Teaching classroom, students learn about real life experiences and make choices that can affect their entire lives. I now look back on my teaching career and mourn for the “Brians” in my classes all those years, wishing I could turn back the clock and handle them differently. In the past I might have looked at my class roster and thought, “Oh no, another Brian.” I now look forward to getting as many “Brians” as possible because I am equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to help them become their best and make smart choices.
ReplyDeleteSandy,
DeleteI appreciate you sharing your "Brian" story. I agree that the opportunity to be an Independent, if even for a day, can change how a child views his behavior and how he views his "friends". Here are 25 certification points!