Explaining Marla's Behavior
“People’s behaviors are largely the results of their experiences with stimuli in their immediate environment”(Ormrod, 2014. P. 265. And due to those experiences, it is important that as teachers we remember that students’ past and present lives environment can have a big influence on the way they behave ( Ormrod, 2014). As Marla expressed to the teacher she gets antsy (anxious) and it happens during the teacher-led instruction. I would address Marla’s behavior by paying close attention to Marla while I’m giving the instruction of the various topics to determine which one of the topics triggers her to become so anxious. Having a conversation with her after class about what exactly is making her anxious for example, if is the fear of learning
something new, or if she is having trouble understanding the instruction that is being given. I believe that talking to her privately one on one will allow her to open up with me and calm her down. I would also explain to her again the instructions of the topics while we are by ourselves, perhaps, not being surrounded by the other students will help her stay to relax and I can have her full attention. A motivational strategy that I would use with Marla is share with the whole class, but especially to her, the times I used to get anxious when I was in school and I had to take a test or I was in the process of learning something new. By Marla hearing that her teacher used to get anxious also in the class, this will help her realize that she is not the only one and will make her feel more at ease. And also do breathing exercises before and after the teacher-led instruction segment of the class. I will use intermittent reinforcement, by occasionally during the teacher-led instruction when Marla gets out of her seat to ask her how she is feeling, or if she needs a few minutes to herself. Also, bring her back to her seat while holding her hand, looking into her eyes and tell her” Everything is going to be ok, we will talk about the topics instruction after class, for now, sit down and try to relax”.
something new, or if she is having trouble understanding the instruction that is being given. I believe that talking to her privately one on one will allow her to open up with me and calm her down. I would also explain to her again the instructions of the topics while we are by ourselves, perhaps, not being surrounded by the other students will help her stay to relax and I can have her full attention. A motivational strategy that I would use with Marla is share with the whole class, but especially to her, the times I used to get anxious when I was in school and I had to take a test or I was in the process of learning something new. By Marla hearing that her teacher used to get anxious also in the class, this will help her realize that she is not the only one and will make her feel more at ease. And also do breathing exercises before and after the teacher-led instruction segment of the class. I will use intermittent reinforcement, by occasionally during the teacher-led instruction when Marla gets out of her seat to ask her how she is feeling, or if she needs a few minutes to herself. Also, bring her back to her seat while holding her hand, looking into her eyes and tell her” Everything is going to be ok, we will talk about the topics instruction after class, for now, sit down and try to relax”.