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Show The Gunnison Valley Gazette Wednesday, September 10, 2014 Page 7 Valley teachers attend training session by ANITA LYONS Gunnison High and Middle schools ended early last Friday, in order for teachers from both schools to attend a training session. Master teacher Melisa Genaux spent three hours giving teachers tools to effectively manage a classroom. Genaux started by describing the natural human way to deal with behavior, which she describes as "How we make kids worse over time." The adult asks, the kid ignores; adult nags (defined as asking more than twice), kid delays; adult gives warnings or small threats, kid argues; adult gives large threat, kid throws tantrum; adult withdraws or negotiates by changing request, kid's tantrum stops. "If you want to change someone's behavior, you need to change yours first," explained Genaux. First, you set the expectations and the tone, such as, "In this class we listen. Listening is 1. Sitting quietly in your seat, and 2. Looking at the teacher." Then you tell the students that two reminders will be given before a consequence happens for bad behavior. The language of the two warnings is "Name, direction, please," as in "John sit down please." Then a very important part is to wait at least ten seconds. Genaux said while waiting, the teacher continues teaching, such as "Class, take out your books and turn to page . ." She explained, "When you click and the computer doesn't respond, it's thinking, you need to give it time. If you click again, you've slowed it down giving more directions which also need to be processed." Kids need process time after getting a direction, not more directions in quick succession. After ten seconds if the student has not complied the next warning is "Name, you need to, direction," such as "John you need to sit down." Genoux told teachers, "If you can wait ten seconds, behavior will improve and we haven't even gotten to the consequences yet!" She said consequences should be small instead of taking the whole thing. Students hate losing their social time at school ex- plained Genoux. She suggested that for students who continue to disobey, the first consequence should be that they have to stay in class after the rest of the class has been excused. The first time amount is 15 seconds. If they disobey again, they have to stay after for 23 seconds. "Most kids will not go past step two," said Genaux. The teacher should display consequences, up to five. She suggested teachers walk between the two farthest points of the school, and time it, then make sure that the greatest consequence doesn't go over that time. The student will not be late to his next class, but his social time with friends in the hall has been cut short. "Taking little pieces instead of taking the whole thing makes kids cut their losses and teaches them there's something to salvage," Genaux said. She commented that this program can be done at home with children too. For instance, "Don't take away all the computer time at 3 p.m.," she said. Taking it away 20 minutes at a time is more effective. She told the story of one father whose consequence for his teenage daughter was to take away items out of her makeup bag. Lip gloss went first, then lip liner, next mascara, and lastly, her special mousse for fixing her hair. "She never once lost that mousse," reported Genaux. "You can stop bad behavior, but if you want to change behavior, you need to do something different," said Genaux, introducing the next step, which is positive consequences. She explained, "Where attention goes, behavior grows." Instead of reprimanding the student who is acting out, try complimenting the student sitting next to him for listening so well. She gave ideas for incentives for classes, such as time at the end of class to listen to music, or play a game. She showed teachers how to make a small grid with six or eight boxes, and if the class is participating well, reward them with an "x" in the box. When the box is full, the class gets the promised reward. If a particularly difficult child can be caught doing good, the teacher can compliment him and put an "x" in the box, saying "John, ntta yons unmson ra ey azette Melisa Genaux travels the nation presenting ways to deal with Autism Spectrum Disorders and student behavior. She spent 3 hours training Gunnison teachers last Friday. She has served as a Special Education Coordinator and as a consultant to the Utah State Office of Education. For more information on how to deal with child behaviors, go to her website: www.aspergerstrength.com . you earned a point for the whole class, well done." Genaux recommended that the teachers "praise in public, and reprimand in private." Genaux said at home incentive charts could be made for each child, with rewards such as some change to spend, or time with the car; or the reward could be a family activity that everyone wants to do. mhers new on This week's Heap of the Week goes to Chippy Harris! Chippy drives a 2000 yellow Jeep. Dave Lambertsen www.davelambertsen.com Providing Insurance and Financial Service aim "I love it!" Hitt' StateVeatn‘ ighbor Like a good neighbor, State Farm isthere: 91 Auto•Home•Life•Bank •Health•Business Providing PIM, and n<ial Seencet &State am artlberRen . 40 1, C ON Dino3/4. 44° your comfort specialists 41)• G is sponsored by: 528-3988 50 E. HWY 89 - Gunnison Coach B's v•Iii0TS• 4 Pizza • Calzone Breadsticks • Salad Free Delivery . p.t.z.A„. • x .1,e, #•.•#. (Limited Area) 4, * 528-3792 • 57 South Main • Gunnison . . -s,--7 ..• *Am •• t t DEW' S Happy to Serve You Specialty Pizza's: Chicken Alfredo. Philly Steak & Swiss. BBQ Chicken • Chicken Bacon Ranch Stix of all kinds: Bread Stix • Cheerstix • Pepperoni Stix • Hawaiian Stix • Cinnastix • Yummy Stix —Pasta Bowl and Lunch Specials— Coach B's Lotsa Motsa Sports Calendar GVHS Football Fri Sept 12 • Layton Christian @ Gunnison • 7 pm • Homecoming GVHS Volleyball Thur Sept 18 • South Summit @ Gunnison • 7 pm GVHS Girls Soccer Thur Sept 11 • Manti @ Gunnison • 4 pm GVHS Girls Tennis Tue Sept 16 • Delta @ Gunnison • 10:30 am GVHS Boys Golf Wed Sept 10 • Gunnison @ East Bay GVHS Cross Country Wednesday September 10 • Gunnison A North Summit "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there!" LIFE • AUTO • FIRE • HOME • RENTERS MOTORCYCLE • BANKING AND MORE! Visit Dave, Jill or Tierney for all your insurance needs! StateFarmm Lambertsen Ins Fin Svcs Inc Dave Lambertsen, Agent www.davelambertsen.com Gunnison, UT 84634 Bus. 435-528-7500 |
