Teacher’s Corner

Writing Prompts and Discussion Topics on the Subject of Attention for Misbehavior.

1. Students often act out and get in trouble as a way to get much-needed attention. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Explain why or why not. Research studies that have been done about the need that human beings have for attention starting in infancy. Use some of this research to support your opinions.

2. Read Attention for Misbehavior.  Choose one of the three types of discipline listed. Discuss whether you agree or disagree with whether that type of discipline is likely to be successful. Include your reasons for agreeing or disagreeing. Construct examples of that type of discipline based on things you have seen, heard, or read about.

3. You are writing an article for parents in the local newspaper. Read Attention for Misbehavior.  Select one of the types of discipline that you want to share with parents in your article. In your own words, describe the type of discipline and how it connects to attention. Explain why you think this example, more than the other two, should be shared with parents.

You can read more about discipline at Kids and Sharing, Kids and Sharing, part 2, or Sticking to the Rules.

Teachers, you can use this blog in classrooms. Here are two ideas about how.

1. For middle or high school parenting or child development courses:

• Use the blog for discussion topics
• Require students to research the topics and agree or disagree with what the blog is suggesting.

2.  For all courses, especially English Language Arts:

• Use the blog for writing prompts for paragraphs, theme papers, journal entries, class starters, etc. Have students read the blog and respond to:
  • Do you agree with what is being said about kids? Do kids really act, think or feel that way?
  • Do you agree with what is being said about parents, grandparents, teachers and child caregivers? Do or should they act, think or feel that way?
  • What would be your advice on this topic?
  • What was left out of this article?
  • If you were a parent, would you use any of this information? How?

Why can this blog be a useful teaching tool?

• Students that see connections between their coursework and their lives do better in school.
• Most students will either be parents one day or have children in their lives that they care about, so the topical information can help them build their knowledge about children and parenting and develop a positive image of the type of parenting they want to do.
• The new core literacy standards adopted by most states call for frequent writing in all courses.
• Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can think critically. These prompts help students practice critical thinking.
• Newly developed end-of-course assessments to be used by many states will require that students demonstrate that they can analyze what they read. These prompts help students practice analysis.