The Effects of Co-Teaching Zones of Regulation on Elementary Students’ Social, Emotional, and Academic Risk Behaviors

Student misbehavior is a significant concern in the current classroom. Teachers nationwide have implemented several approaches to reduce student misbehavior, including School-wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and co-teaching. However, since misbehaver still disrupts learning, research is still needed to find a classroom intervention that will reduce misbehavior in a classroom to prevent students from under achieving, disruption of peers’ learning and teacher burnout. Zones of Regulation focuses on self-regulation, while addressing sensory processing, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. This experimental study tested the effects of co-taught Zones of Regulation on students’ Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS). Fifty-six early elementary students (48% female) were assigned randomly to either the experimental group, which received co-taught direct instruction with Zones of Regulation or the control group, which received standard instruction with a morning meeting. It was predicted that the experimental group would score higher on the SAEBRS than the control group. Although results showed no statistical difference on the SAEBRS scores between the two groups, more students in the experimental group moved from “at risk” to “not at risk”. This study suggests additional research needs to be conducted to determine if co-taught Zones of Regulation instruction is an effective intervention for reducing misbehavior.

A Comparative Study of Conflicts Experienced Between Immigrant Parents in Canada and in Israel and Professionals in Educational Institutions about Appropriate Responses to Children's Misbehavior

One of the barriers which immigrant parents may encounter in the process of acculturation into their new country is differing expectations about ways in which teachers and other professionals involved in the educational system should relate to their children’s misbehavior. To examine the potential sources of conflicts relating to disciplinary measures, a comparative study utilizing a qualitative methodology was conducted with 65 immigrant parents from Latin America in Canada and with 103 immigrant parents from the Former Soviet Union in Israel. The findings indicate that, in the two samples, participants experienced differences between their expectations about the way in which teachers should handle student misbehavior and the actual behavior of the teachers. The differences which the immigrant parents indicated could be characterized primarily as culturally based disagreements about (a) the types of misbehaviors which justify intervention by teachers, (b) the kind of disciplinary measures which should be used, (c) the factors that should be considered when deciding about disciplinary actions, and (d) the lack of sensitivity to the impact of immigration related difficulties on the behavior of children. The immigrants’ current expectations of teachers’ behavior was based on their experiences in their country of origin, and these were often in contradiction with the common approach in Canada and Israel. Ways of developing reciprocal channels of communication between professionals in schools and kindergartens and immigrant parents are suggested in order to overcome barriers and bridge gaps in communication.

A Comparative Study of Conflicts Experienced Between Immigrant Parents in Canada and in Israel and Professionals in Educational Institutions about Appropriate Responses to Children's Misbehavior

One of the barriers which immigrant parents may encounter in the process of acculturation into their new country is differing expectations about ways in which teachers and other professionals involved in the educational system should relate to their children’s misbehavior. To examine the potential sources of conflicts relating to disciplinary measures, a comparative study utilizing a qualitative methodology was conducted with 65 immigrant parents from Latin America in Canada and with 103 immigrant parents from the Former Soviet Union in Israel. The findings indicate that, in the two samples, participants experienced differences between their expectations about the way in which teachers should handle student misbehavior and the actual behavior of the teachers. The differences which the immigrant parents indicated could be characterized primarily as culturally based disagreements about (a) the types of misbehaviors which justify intervention by teachers, (b) the kind of disciplinary measures which should be used, (c) the factors that should be considered when deciding about disciplinary actions, and (d) the lack of sensitivity to the impact of immigration related difficulties on the behavior of children. The immigrants’ current expectations of teachers’ behavior was based on their experiences in their country of origin, and these were often in contradiction with the common approach in Canada and Israel. Ways of developing reciprocal channels of communication between professionals in schools and kindergartens and immigrant parents are suggested in order to overcome barriers and bridge gaps in communication.

Preservice Physical Education Teachers’ Experiences Implementing the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility Model

The purpose of this study was to examine physical education (PE) preservice teachers’ (PSTs) experiences applying the teaching personal and social responsibility model (TPSR) at the elementary level. Fuller’s (1969) theory of concern development served as a framework for this study. A purposive sample of nine PSTs (3 females, 6 males), majoring in PE teacher education, participated in the study. A focus group, observations, and diary reflections were used as data collection methods. Triangulation of the data and a member check process ensured the trustworthiness of the study. Results showed that PSTs were more prepared to teach the TPSR levels of helping others, effort, and autonomy at the elementary level. However, the level of respect was the most challenging level for PSTs to implement. Student misbehavior, planning, communication skills, and environmental factors emerged as practical instructional challenges in applying the TPSR. Finally, participants reported that the TPSR was vital and changed their beliefs regarding PE and contributes to developing values and life skills. Further research should address the concerns and gaps in the levels of respect and effort.

Excellent Teachers’ Strategies in Managing Students’ Misbehaviour in the Classroom

The study explores Excellent Teachers’ strategies in managing students’ misbehavior in the classroom. Students’ misbehavior are escalating and getting more variant and serious. The need to investigate how teachers manage the students’ behavior in the classroom is deemed important. In this study the participants are Excellent Teachers or “Guru Cemerlang” who earned their title as “Guru Cemerlang”, based on promotional basis, due to their expertise in their teaching areas, exhibition of exceptional qualities in their personality and leadership and accumulation of vast teaching experiences. This is a qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews and email interviews as its data collection method. The interviews were conducted on nine (9) Malay Muslim Excellent Teachers; seven (7) females and two (2) males from nine different schools of nine different school districts in Selangor. Their age ranges from thirty seven (37) to fifty three (53) years with teaching experiences ranging from ten (10) to thirty one (31) years. The strategies that Excellent Teachers utilize could be categorized into three higher categories: the first category pertaining to the preparation and activities that excellent teachers carried out in the classroom, the second category is interaction, which is the communication and reaction of excellent teachers towards student misbehavior and the third category is the presentation of treatment pertaining to pleasant or unpleasant consequences. In this article only discussion on the first category of the strategy which pertain to preparation and activities that excellent teachers carried out in the classroom will be highlighted. The sub- strategies are recognized as early year preparation, conducive learning environment, and classroom activities. Keywords: classroom discipline, classroom management, classroom strategies, excellent teacher.