This past week was our spring break, and let me tell you, we ALL needed it badly. We could all tell that everyone was getting a little restless as the break grew closer. To top it off, we had an off week with a couple field trips and class rewards, so we were already prepared for instruction to be a bit off kilter that week, so we learned to be flexible.
Unfortunately, my student has been “forgetting” to get her papers signed throughout the day. She receives a check in the appropriate box during a twenty minute period of time if she has completed tasks without engaging in the undesired behavior. All of her teachers are aware of her blue paper, but they also know it is HER responsibility to keep up with it and bring it with her to specials. Being responsible for it herself was part of the latest modifications we introduced. A lack of checks also means she does not receive her tickets at the end of the day and in turn will not receive her reward at the end of the week.
This was especially clear to her when she was not able to accept the offer to be on Falcon Patrol. The specialist was unaware of her behavior issues and offered it to her prior to consulting myself and my CT. I would love to allow her to do that because she wants is so desperately, but she knows what needs to be done in order to make it to that point. This incident pointed out a great goal for the next set of modifications. I was unaware, until her breakdown, of the importance of making Falcon Patrol so hopefully I can use that to encourage her to keep track of her behavior checklist from now on. I’m hoping this break did us all some good and we can start off this week on the right foot!
One of the biggest issues I have with my student as well is that she “forgets” to have her chart signed. It’s frustrating to me because then I do not know whether she actually did forget (which is not acceptable) or whether she knew she did not follow the school rules, and so did not ask the teacher to sign her chart (if she had more than 2 warnings then the teacher writes in the space what she did). I wish I knew how to deal with the “forgetting” issue better.
It’s great to hear that your student is passionate about being on Falcon Patron. Hopefully that will encourage her to work harder and to earn that as her reward. I am still trying to figure out what interests my case study student besides boys, phones, and TV. The rewards set in place have not motivated her enough to improve and she helped us create them!
Good luck. Sounds like you are working hard with your student
By: Kristin Wetherby on April 18, 2010
at 10:32 pm