Scenario for Role Play 10
Teacher role
Karin is an eight year old third grader. She is the youngest in a family of three girls. Her sisters are fifteen and seventeen. Karin is repeatedly absent from school. She lives at home with her sisters and father since her mother’s death; however, she spends most of her time with an aunt and uncle. She has reading and emotional problems. Karin is very aggressive, and her play activities center around football and softball. She sees little reason to learn what is being taught in school. In fact she probably wouldn’t come if she didn’t have to. She has come to school today about midmorning and has been in trouble during recess for fighting with a boy. This afternoon students were working on their model city and Karin refuses to do anything.
Considerations
- Possible background information
- Behavioral causes
- Possible solutions
- Consider theories, models, or other information used to help guide your decision making
- Create a script for talking with Karin
Student role - Karin
You are eight years old and in third grade. You are the youngest in a family of three girls. Your sisters are fifteen and seventeen. Your sisters are allowed to stay home from school about any day they choose. If they stay home from school you have no way to school and stay home. You are bigger than most girls your age and are always getting picked on by your older sister. You have learned that if you want anything you can get it by being aggressive. You can’t beat your sisters, but if dad is around he admires your "guts" and usually steps in and says give it to Karin, or let Karin play and you get what you want. You have also found that at school you can make the other kids back down anytime you want. You hate reading. You were late to school today because your sisters were late getting home last night and were allowed to sleep extra. You were in trouble during recess for fighting with a boy that stole your ball. This afternoon students were working on their model city. They were here this morning and have ideas about what they want to do and will not listen to your ideas. You decide to just sit and do nothing.
Teacher - Suggestions
Suggestions to encourage change from self-limiting behaviors to mastery oriented behaviors. See Conversations to change behavior
and possible verbal interactions and interventions.
Short term
- Talk to the student and see if they understand the assignment.
- Use interest boosting.
- Use hurdle helping to get the student started.
- To punish the student for their behavior would not allow them the opportunity to accept their behavior or being taught an acceptable behavior.
Long term
- Invite the parent(s) to visit the classroom.
- Suggest student and parent(s) visit a counselor or psychiatrist for family counseling.
- Involve the student in the classroom more. Give them extra responsibility.
- Use sports as positive reinforcers in a cognitive management system (Premeck principle, token economy, contract...)
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