First published 28 Jan 2009
I was listening to the 'The Supportive Classroom' podcast (also available on iTunes podcasts) last night and when Tim was discussing sanctions he mentioned that it was important that the time spent had some educational value and if possible was connected with the incident. I like to think of it in the UK terms - "What is the learning outcome?"
He talked about using apology, either in a letter or face-to-face to make amends and re-start the broken relationship. If damage had been caused, then perhaps some activity linked to that would make some recompense. In contrast, punishment seems to just seek to take revenge and is mostly an activity unrelated to any form of restitution or rebuilding of relationships.
Punishments like this also build negative responses, avoidance tactics, blaming and lying. Properly structured and positive, coaching-based sanctions are more likely to have a beneficial learning outcome, better experience, less denial and more responsibility-taking.
I also like his categories of communication from the blog
he six categories of communication include:
1. To Get Attention
2. To Get Control / To Get Something
3. To Escape or Avoid a Situation
4. To Get Revenge
5. To Have Fun - Play
6. Self-Regulation
Podcast Nos. 7, 8 & 9 seems to have some great advice for target setting or 'Student success plans' as they call them - I really like the positivity of this phrase.
Tim's work was in the Swanton school, Vermontand had a focus around special needs (many severe), of which his school has 13%. It's great to see much of his work complements what we do in SBM.
Read more about him in his current role
I was listening to the 'The Supportive Classroom' podcast (also available on iTunes podcasts) last night and when Tim was discussing sanctions he mentioned that it was important that the time spent had some educational value and if possible was connected with the incident. I like to think of it in the UK terms - "What is the learning outcome?"
He talked about using apology, either in a letter or face-to-face to make amends and re-start the broken relationship. If damage had been caused, then perhaps some activity linked to that would make some recompense. In contrast, punishment seems to just seek to take revenge and is mostly an activity unrelated to any form of restitution or rebuilding of relationships.
Punishments like this also build negative responses, avoidance tactics, blaming and lying. Properly structured and positive, coaching-based sanctions are more likely to have a beneficial learning outcome, better experience, less denial and more responsibility-taking.
I also like his categories of communication from the blog
he six categories of communication include:
1. To Get Attention
2. To Get Control / To Get Something
3. To Escape or Avoid a Situation
4. To Get Revenge
5. To Have Fun - Play
6. Self-Regulation
Podcast Nos. 7, 8 & 9 seems to have some great advice for target setting or 'Student success plans' as they call them - I really like the positivity of this phrase.
Tim's work was in the Swanton school, Vermontand had a focus around special needs (many severe), of which his school has 13%. It's great to see much of his work complements what we do in SBM.
Read more about him in his current role