The Criticism Trap

Call me lame but I think what I'm learning in my classroom management class pretty fascinating. During my cramming today (we have a mid-term tomorrow) I came across what is called "The Criticism Trap."

My textbook gave an example of a 1st grade class with 48 students in it and two team teachers. Two researchers came in and counted the amount of times children got out of their seats when they should have been studying versus how many times the teacher said, "Sit down." They recorded that the teacher would say "Sit down" about 7 times in a 20 minute period while 3 children got out of their seat every 10 seconds. That's a lot of kids out of their seats!

When the researchers asked the teachers to increase the amount of times they said, "Sit down," (28 times in 20 minutes) the children stood up more often, an average of 4.5 times in 10 seconds.

When the researchers asked the teachers to quit telling them to sit down and only praise those who were sitting and working, only 2 children stood up in 10 seconds.

Here's what they found: Attention to the off-task behavior increased its occurance when no praise was given for working.

Giving criticism for bad behavior reinforces it because it only gives attention (the reinforcer) to bad behavior and not to good behavior. A child will recieve attention more often if they're acting bad because they receive more attention (it's a circle). Some children don't receieve any attention if they're acting good, there's no praise because the teacher or mom is using that time to correct papers or get something done. Therefore there's no reinforcement (or attention) for good behavior. It's like they have to act bad to get any attention at all.

Here's how to escape the Ciritcism Trap:
1. Use prompts or reminders to praise more (signs around the room)
2. Pactice how to praise
3. Make it possible for you to be reinforced for praising more often (usually the improvement in class behavior is a good reinforcer for teachers.)

The text also suggested these ways: make the misbehavior of one child the signal to find and praise another child who is behaving well. Give out tokens or prompt your praise (such as sticker points, or jelly beans when they're on task). Put up signs to remind yoursel of praise (such as: catch them being good, don't wait for misbehavior, praise, reward improvement, be specific, tell Joe what he did right, when you praise Jim, describe what he did well, praise Mary).

Here's the last bit I found interesting:

What exactly is praise or criticism?
Praise: This includes paying attention to appropriate behavior with comments of approval and achievement such as, "That's good," "You're studying well," "Fine job," "I like you."
Criticism: This includes verbally calling attention to undesireable behavior. This may be of high intensity (yelling, scolding or screaming) or of low intensity ("Go to the office," "You know what you are supposed to be doing.") Calling the child to the desk to talk things over and threats of consequences are also included.

Sorry if this bored you but I would like to remember this when I have kids and I thought it might help all you who teach or have kids.