So they come to class thinking they can pull the same stunts in class, but they can't if the teacher stays calm, consistent, and never turns his or her back on the class for any reason. The calm, well-organized teacher that sticks to the rules that have been applied to the classroom dynamics, and doesn't get flustered easily, is going to be successful (Metu.edu).
What types of students might not respond to the Jones' approach? Why?
One kind of student that will always test the teacher, whether the teacher is using Jones' strategy or not, is the gang banger, or gang wannabe. That boy is out to show the gang he is part of that he can stand up to authority. The other kind of student who won't cooperate (until punished) is the kid from a broken home who has been dabbling in drugs and alcohol and has free reign at his home (a single parent home). No matter how reasonable and cool the teacher may be, these two types have nothing to lose because they have already been suspended several times and getting kicked out again might be good because they don't really want to be in school and they have a job at a local car wash that gives them enough money to buy drugs.
Do you agree with Jones' philosophy about group productivity? Why or why not?
I do agree that productivity can occur if the teacher is consistent and moves around the classroom constantly and presents a good role model for students to follow. When there is a disruption, hit the "relax button" and don't show that you are frustrated or about to blow up; the class will continue to be productive. If the class isn't fully under control, there will not be productivity because it is not possible to have students...
He has to be dealt with. "Do not expect students to take classroom structure more seriously than you do," Jones explains. That hits the nail on the head if a teacher truly wants class productivity (PBS).
Can this model be used along with other strategies in the readings?
Of course this model can be incorporated with any other strategy as long as they do not conflict with each other. Every teacher has to come up with a plan of action that makes sense and uses the strengths of the teacher. If a female teacher is on the diminutive side, and has a quiet little voice, she is going to need to work out a system that dovetails with the Jones approach.
In conclusion, the one important lesson that can come from studying Jones' philosophy and strategy is that very little learning will be accomplished if there are rowdy kids in the class and they are allowed to disrupt the proceedings. The second important lesson is that the teacher must be consistent because kids are just waiting for that moment when the teacher backs down from what he or she promised would happen if a certain kind of behavior is exhibited without consequences.
Works Cited
Education World. (2008). Dr. Fred Jones' Tools for Teaching. Retrieved May 10, 2013, from http://www.educationworld.com.
Middle East Technical University. (2010). The Positive Discipline Model. Retrieved May 10,
2013, from http://www.metu.edu.
PBS. (2011). PBS Classroom Structure: Be All You Can Be. Retrieved May 10, 2013, from http://www.modelprogram.com.
