Scenario for Role Play 4
Teacher role
Bobbie is a second grader who is very bright and a joy to have in a classroom. He is extremely popular with other students. If corrected for anything, however, Bobbie refuses to accept that he has made a mistake or broken a rule. He responds, "I didn’t do it." Subsequent discussions with his mother revealed that "This has been his way of life. We’ve tried to change him, but it’s impossible." Today is the day you will use all the information you have and talk with him. Bobbie has just returned from the restroom and you saw him run around the corner, grab a friend’s hat, laugh, throw it into the vacant janitor’s office, and run into the classroom. Bobbie is sitting in his seat acting like the perfect student when you enter the room. You decide to talk to Bobbie.
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 Bobbie
Student role - Bobbie
You are a second grader who is very bright. You are very proud that you are a good student and usually know all the answers. You have just returned from the rest room and are sitting in your seat when the teacher comes into the room. You have taken a friend’s hat, in jest, thrown it into the janitor’s vacant office and returned to your seat before the teacher enters the room. You did not see any adult in the hall when you were there. You have learned that if you have done anything wrong you can say "I didn’t do it" and if you are persistent enough adults will leave you alone. That is the strategy you will use today.
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
- Call the parents at this time is probably not a good choice since, the parents have decided their child’s behavior can not be changed.
- To punish the student for their behavior would not allow them the opportunity to accept their behavior or being taught an acceptable behavior.
- Talk with the student to try and allow them to acknowledge their actions.
Long term
- When the teacher has parent conferences or at other appropriate times during the year the teacher could continue to explain how their child’s behavior could be changed with professional help.
- Refer the student to a counselor.
- Could refer the parents to a counselor or psychiatrist for family counseling.
[ Previous role play ] - - - - - - - - -- [ Next role play ]