Middle School Case Study – ‘Joe’
Sylvia Beauchain
The student ‘Joe’ is in Grade 7 and
having trouble making the transition between elementary and Junior High school.
Just to illustrate Joe’s learning needs and problems, below is a short list of
issues that have been plaguing him since elementary and are since magnified in
junior high:
-
Interrupting
teachers
-
Being a danger to
himself and others
-
Physically
harming
-
Disrespecting
school property
-
Disrespecting
others work
-
Lack of effort,
homework and projects
-
Carelessly hands
in homework
-
Physical
encounters with teachers
-
Insubordinate
behavior/threats
Intervention:
We as school teachers and staff have
tried talking to his parents, calling and also during PTC conferences. His
mother choses to ignore his behavior and brushes it off as “he’s just being a
boy”. His father does not attend because he works in mainland Japan.
The school counselor has had meetings
with him and she has reported that there is no desire from him to change. He
states, “Ya, I will try..” when he is pushed to apologize to a victim (student,
teacher, staff).
We do not expel or suspend students,
but perhaps that is the next step in this case.
Student-centered addition:
I have added activities, tools,
materials, study time and other original adaptations to my lesson for him to thrive.
He makes very little effort, or actually very much effort to try and rush
through the work to show how well he botched and sabotaged it. I have praised
his projects and found good points to cheer on about, but it is not the missing
piece for him.
Setting the Tone
of Teacher-Student Interactions (Lorain, 2017)
o
Communicate
clearly with the student, using understandable vocabulary.
o
Be
firm and direct.
o
Use
your tone and voice carefully. Don't get angry or emotional.
o
Be
rational and objective.
o
Always
provide a time to listen to the student.
o
Ignore
trivial denial.
Results
As many teachers have noticed,
recorded and reported, the missing key for this child is his mother. She is so
kind and sweet, and never raises her voice at him. She never gives him any
boundaries. Perhaps his lack of attention in class and sheer defile is due to
the feeling that his mother does not love him enough to put perimeters up for
him. Many parents care through discipline, boundaries and consequences. If this
is what he needs and is lacking in his life, then he is right to rebel the way
he is.
In class is where I try to make
changes and transform his behavior. I have boundaries and rewards, with strict expectations
yet interactive fun activities. I try to make learning fun and animated, using
all the senses with technology, movement and games.
References:
Lorain, P. (2017) Handling Disruptive
Students. A Delicate Dance for any
Teacher. Retrieved on June 19th 2018. http://www.nea.org/tools/handling-disruptive-students.html
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