My husband Kevin has read (and improved) almost everything I’ve written in the past 15 years. After my last post about behavior plans, which he liked very much, he had three observations: (1) I should write about the love of learning kids experience in my room, (2) teachers are surprisingly manipulative, and (3) the posts I’ve been writing are mostly about behaviorism.
To the first point: Kevin’s right. Posts about freedom, inspiration, and love of learning coming soon!
To the second point, about manipulation: what an interesting way to put it. Good teachers build strong bonds with their kids, develop trust, and define clear expectations and boundaries. Do I use those strong bonds to make kids work harder than they would on their own? Of course! I use all the resources I have to make them want to do what I (and their parents, our district, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) want them to do. And is that manipulation? I suppose so, but another way to put it is that it’s an effective use of influence and motivation, always in the service of student learning and growth. I have more thoughts on this. Another future post!
It’s Kevin’s last (excellent) point about behaviorism that I want to write about today. Continue reading →