-What are some things that you will implement (or have already implemented) and/or do differently regarding your interactions with children and/or adults resulting from your understandings of Payne's framework?
I will try to implement Payne's idea of using discipline as an instructive method which teaches students new behaviors that will help them survive in school as well as in society. In poverty discipline is much more about self-punishment and forgiveness and has little to do with change. Due to the fact that change is not important, once the forgiveness is granted it is very common for the same deviant behavior to return shortly. Using Payne's framework it is important that teachers understand the behaviors of children in poverty and that their discipline is very different from what we are familiar with. Payne points out that if we want change in these students we must be advocates of discipline that stresses on teaching separate sets of behaviors. I believe that once these students learn new behaviors they will be able to more successful in school. Payne also points out that although fighting physically may be a necessity within their community to survive, they must also learn acceptable alternative methods that can be used in the school setting. This is an area that I believe teachers need to constantly work on with students that come from a life of poverty. Payne continues to describe that an effective discipline program in a school must be based on structure and and choice. He specifically states, "The two anchors of any effective discipline program that moves students to self-governance are structure and choice. (Payne, 2005, p. 78). I have learned that the major area that is lacking in poverty students compared to the middle class students is their lack of self-control concerning behavior. Poverty student usually act out before thinking of consequences because for the most part their first reaction is all they understand. With structure and choice we as educators are able to assist these students in making better decisions and learning new behaviors. I have realized from this reading that it is crucial to let these students know that they do have a choice when it comes to behavior but that with each choice then comes a consequences. I also believe that it is important to understand these behaviors because it will also help teacher better communicate with parents from poverty. These students learn these behaviors from their parent so understanding different strategies to relate to these parents will help in the communication process. I personally believe that most teachers do not understand this behavior because they have never been in their shoes. Teachers that do not understand the lives that these children live everyday, will have a difficult time understanding their behavior. I believe that if the Payne has made an excellent point that these children do not need punished as much as they need to learn new and more appropriate behaviors.
Payne, R.K. (2005). A framework for understanding poverty. (4th ed.) The Highlands, TX: aha. Process, Inc.
I also agree with you and Payne that using discipline as an instructive method is very important. I believe this starts with day one. We must model and clearly communicate expectations and how our classroom will be structured. If these methods are productive, they could quite possible inspire the students to use them outside of the school setting. Not only are we letting them know our expectations, but we are setting them up for success in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteUsing discipline as an instructional tool is an effective method I like to use in my classroom. It is very important to take a different approach to discipline and teach a separate set of behaviors when working with children, especially those coming from poverty. According to Payne “In poverty, discipline is about penance and forgiveness, not necessarily change.” She states that often times the behaviors students bring to school are necessary for survival outside of school, therefore students from poverty need to have at least two sets of behaviors to choose from—one for the street and the other for school. Making sure to provide structure and choice as part of our discipline approach and using it as a form of instruction instead of punishment will promote successful behaviors from students who come from poverty.
ReplyDelete