Preventing School Violence

Preventing School Violence

Due to a growing number of social problems and an increase in the at-risk population over the past two years, as displayed on the Timeline of worldwide school and mass shootings acts of violence in schools have increased significantly with physical violence, cyber-bullying, and destruction of property. Many principals have now initiated Preventing School Violence programs at their schools.

For this assignment, imagine that you have been given the task of constructing an intervention/prevention program aimed at either the high school or middle school level to reduce acts of violence. Write a paper or create a PowerPoint or Prezipresentation in which you:

• Explain why a school violence prevention program is important for today’s school environment. Be sure to include whether you are focusing on high school or middle school students.
• Describe features you would most want the program to have, citing at least four specific examples of programs or intervention strategies that apply to the level you have chosen. Be sure to include the aspects to avoid in designing your program.
• Outline at least five warning signs that a student might display prior to committing an act of violence.
• Describe strategies to prevent school bullying.

In addition to the course text, use at least two scholarly web pages or journal articles to support your points. If writing a paper, it should four to five pages, excluding the title and reference pages, and formatted according to APA guidelines, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. If creating a PowerPoint or Prezi, it should be 15 to 20 slides and include APA-formatted title and reference slides.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Overview

Assignment	Due Date	Format	Grading Percent
A Temper Tantrum	Day 3 (1st post)	Discussion	3
Cultural Awareness	Day 7	Journal	2
Preventing School Violence	Day 7	Assignment	10

Note: The online classroom is designed to time students out after 90 minutes of inactivity. Because of this, we strongly suggest that you compose your work in a word processing program and copy and paste it into the discussion post when you are ready to submit it.

Learning Outcomes

This week students will:

1. Apply the need for effective early intervention programs and long-term benefits to classroom situations.
2. Identify and appraise behavioral issues related to social emotional problems unique to adolescent development.
3. Analyze the impact of diverse cultures and environmental factors on student behavior.

Introduction

This week, based on your current knowledge of how behavior is learned, you will investigate the need for early intervention programs that create long-term positive effects. This topic includes the hotly debated question of nature versus nurture. Do children learn behavior, or is it innately part of their genetic coding? As children reach adolescence and as hormones change and puberty begins, new behaviors are created that may require the introduction of new behavior management techniques.

Culture also has an influence on how children and adolescents behave. For example, the Chinese find that making direct eye contact with a teacher is a sign of disrespect, but Americans find it quite the opposite. Another example is that typical American culture has an arm’s length comfort zone for conversation with the general public. In Russian culture, however, talking closely is commonplace. These are two examples of how classroom behaviors may be misconstrued by a teacher or other students.

Required Resources

Required Text

1. Zirpoli, T. J. (2016). Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.
   1. Chapter 3: Diversity in the Classroom
   2. Chapter 4: Issues in Early Childhood Behavior
   3. Chapter 5: Issues in Adolescent Behavior

Articles

1. Colombo, M. W. (2005). Reflections from teachers of culturally diverse children. Beyond the Journal: Young Children on the Web. Retrieved from https://journal.naeyc.org/btj/200511/ColomboBTJ110…
   1. • This article defines classroom cultural diversity and discusses how teachers can become competent culturally diverse educators.
2. Ferlazzo, L. (2010, August 11). The best sites for learning about the world’s different cultures. Retrieved from http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/08/11/the-b…
   1. • This article instructs educators how to create culturally responsive classrooms.
3. Ohio Professional Development Network. (2010). Guiding young children’s behavior by supporting social and emotional development. Retrieved from http://www.ohpdnetwork.org/documents/CKC_SE_Guide….
   1. • This handbook provides information on creating strong learning environments for children to grow socially and emotionally, and how to identify potential warnings for behavioral concerns.
4. Pearson Education, Inc. (2012). Timeline of worldwide school and mass shootings. Information Please Database. Retrieved from http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777958.html
   1. • This webpage outlines how incidents of school violence, have become more frequent in recent year
5. Sugai, G., Horner, R., & Algozzine, B. (2011). Reducing the effectiveness of bullying behavior in schools. OSEP Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports. Retrieved from http://www.pbis.org/common/pbisresources/publicati…
   1. • This article explains how to use positive behavioral interventions and supports to reduce bullying behavior in schools.

Multimedia

1. SchoolMentalHealth.org. (n.d.). Adolescent development [PowerPoint Presentation]. Retrieved from http://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/PowerPoints/Adol…
   1. • This PowerPoint presentation explains behavior issues that are specific to adolescents.

Websites

1. Early Intervention Support. (2012). Behavior management guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.earlyinterventionsupport.com/parentingt…
   1. • This webpage is dedicated to explaining how to manage difficult behaviors in toddlers and young children.

Recommended Resources

Websites

1. Prezi (http://prezi.com)
   1. • Prezi is a presentation tool that helps you organize and share your ideas.
2. San Diego Unified School District. (2013). About San Diego unified school district.Retrieved from http://www.sandi.net/page/21
   1. • This webpage reviews the demographic information for the San Diego Unified School District.

Discussion
To participate in the following discussions, go to this week’s Discussion link in the left navigation.

1. A Temper TantrumImagine that one of your closest friends has two children; one child is 5 ½ years old, and the other is almost 7 years old. You’ve noticed that they fight with each other often as well as with other children when you go to the playground. The other day, the youngest grabbed a ball from another child. When you gave the ball back to its rightful owner, your friend’s child had a full-out, feet-stomping, and screaming temper tantrum and could not be consoled or redirected for 10 minutes. What early intervention strategies could have been used to avoid this situation from happening in the first place? Using the information you’ve read this week, do you talk to your friend? Why or why not? Use at least one additional source to support your decision.

   Guided Response: Review and respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. Build on what your classmates suggested and provide additional recommendations. Explain why you agree or disagree with their decisions based on your additional research.

   Carefully review the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate this Discussion Thread.

Journal
To complete the following journal entry, go to this week’s Journal link in the left navigation.

1. Cultural Awareness

First, investigate the cultural demographics in your local school district by searching the district name and the word “demographics” on the Internet. For example, the San Diego Unified School district provides this information on the About San Diego Unified School District page. Then, use this information as your springboard to examine the diverse cultures that make up your school’s population by visiting The Best Sites for Learning about the World’s Different Cultures and Reflections from Teachers of Culturally Diverse Children. Finally, write a journal that includes at least three ideas how to make your classroom reflect your school district’s specific cultural demographics.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your journal entries.

Assignment
To complete the following assignment, go to this week’s Assignment link in the left navigation.

1. Preventing School Violence
   

Due to a growing number of social problems and an increase in the at-risk population over the past two years, as displayed on the Timeline of worldwide school and mass shootings, acts of violence in schools have increased significantly with physical violence, cyber-bullying, and destruction of property. Many principals have now initiated Preventing School Violence programs at their schools.

For this assignment, imagine that you have been given the task of constructing an intervention/prevention program aimed at either the high school or middle school level to reduce acts of violence. Write a paper or create a PowerPoint or Prezi presentation in which you:

• Explain why a school violence prevention program is important for today’s school environment. Be sure to include whether you are focusing on high school or middle school students.
• Describe features you would most want the program to have, citing at least four specific examples of programs or intervention strategies that apply to the level you have chosen. Be sure to include the aspects to avoid in designing your program.
• Outline at least five warning signs that a student might display prior to committing an act of violence.
• Describe strategies to prevent school bullying.

In addition to the course text, use at least two scholarly web pages or journal articles to support your points. If writing a paper, it should four to five pages, excluding the title and reference pages, and formatted according to APA guidelines, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. If creating a PowerPoint or Prezi, it should be 15 to 20 slides and include APA-formatted title and reference slides.

Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

*Special thanks to Dr. Dawson for sharing her original guidance in this document.

Last week you delved into the various theories of how behavior is learned, maintained, or altered. You gained knowledge about how IDEA has upheld the constitutional rights of students with disabilities when they demonstrate negative behaviors within the school setting and that schools are required to implement specific procedures during the disciplinary process. Additionally, you learned that IDEA mandates schools to develop proactive measures to address and prevent negative behaviors within the school environment.

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Week 2 Learning Outcomes

1.Apply the need for effective early intervention programs and long-term benefits to classroom situations.

2.Identify and appraise behavioral issues related to social emotional problems unique to adolescent development.

3.Analyze the impact of diverse cultures and environmental factors on student behavior.

Week 2 Tasks

1.Read from your textbook, Behavior management: Positive applications for teachers.

oChapter 3: Diversity in the Classroom

oChapter 4: Issues in Early Childhood Behavior

oChapter 5: Issues in Adolescent Behavior

2.Read the articles and visit the websites listed in this week’s required resources.

3.Read the key notes and additional tips & hints throughout this guidance.

4.Post and respond twice in the discussion about temper tantrums.

5.Complete the journal entry assignment about cultural awareness.

6.Complete the assignment about preventing school violence.

7.For each assignment, review the grading rubric so that you know what’s expected.

8.Address every component of your discussions and assignments.

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This Week’s Essential Learning

To ensure appropriate social behavior and the academic success of children, professional educators must develop insight into the many facets inherent in what motivates children to behave the way they do. During Week 2, you will deepen your understanding of child and adolescent behavior by learning about typical developmental milestones. Furthermore, it is critical that professional educators comprehend that a child enters the classroom with a plethora of variables that can negatively impact their learning. Foremost, a child’s behavior is deeply influenced by their culture and their environment. For example, children who come from poverty-stricken backgrounds are at risk for physical maladies, mental health issues, behavioral problems, and diminished academic performance. Adolescents contend with a “perfect storm” of physical changes and social challenges that significantly impact their daily lives. For children and adolescents, the school setting can offer a safe haven from a difficult home situation. Within a diverse classroom, professional educators have a remarkable opportunity to teach and model tolerance, acceptance, communication skills, and responsibility, as well as provide warmth, caring, support, and structure. When a child or adolescent experiences an educator’s caring guidance, his or her life could be forever altered in a positive manner.

When considering effective behavior management, a professional educator should be mindful of how his or her behavior impacts the classroom environment. A prime example of an ineffective teacher is one who, in general, exhibits a “one size fits all” mentality where students are concerned. Although he teaches his subject exceptionally well, his personal bias consistently interferes with his ability to see learning differences—he believes learning disabilities do not exist. He misinterprets most student behavior as “laziness.” Very often, he will verbally humiliate students in front of their peers. When a student reacts negatively to this treatment, he blames the student rather than accepting any responsibility for his part in the behavioral disintegration process. His attacks on students makes them feel embarrassed and angry, and his behavior produces a hostile classroom environment, which results in the lack of learning. Clearly, this teacher’s lack of sensitivity and respect for individual differences is of concern. Unfortunately, he is likely not the only teacher who uses these negative tactics in the classroom. To foster competence, appropriate behavior, and proper social skills and to build to self-esteem and levels of self-efficacy, professional educators must be aware of their personal biases and be willing to work with all students, regardless of culture, socioeconomic status, and abilities or disabilities.

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Discussion

A Temper Tantrum

In this weeks’ discussion post, I will be looking for creative intervention strategies, supported by this week’s reading and an additional supportive source. Your discussion post should be thoughtful and comprehensive. Remember to respond to two posts from your classmates.

Journal

Cultural Awareness

Using the demographics from your local school district, examine and discuss the diverse cultures within your school setting. In your journal entry, provide at least three ideas you would incorporate into your classroom that would reflect the diversity of the student population.

Assignment

Preventing School Violence

Create a PowerPoint or Prezi presentation (15–20 slides) or write an essay (4–5 pages) about a violence intervention or prevention program you would develop for middle or high school students. Your assignment should stipulate which population your intervention or prevention program is meant for, and it should address the creativity and viability of the program.

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Recommended Resources

Dating Abuse

http://www.health.utah.gov/vipp/teens/dating-viole…

Kulture Kids

Kulture Kids is dedicated to promoting and enhancing arts and cultural awareness for children through adults.

http://www.kulturekids.org

Child Development Institute

http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/ages-stages/

References

Dawson, C. (2016). Week 2 instructor guidance [ESE 691: Behavior Management in the Classroom]. San Diego, CA: Ashford University.

Zirpoli, T. J. (2016). Behavior management: Positive applications for teachers (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.

To ensure appropriate social behavior and the academic success of children, professional educators must develop insight into the many facets inherent in what motivates children to behave the way they do. During Week 2, you will deepen your understanding of child and adolescent behavior by learning about typical developmental milestones. Furthermore, it is critical that professional educators comprehend that a child enters the classroom with a plethora of variables that can negatively impact their learning. Foremost, a child’s behavior is deeply influenced by their culture and their environment. For example, children who come from poverty-stricken backgrounds are at risk for physical maladies, mental health issues, behavioral problems, and diminished academic performance. Adolescents contend with a “perfect storm” of physical changes and social challenges that significantly impact their daily lives. For children and adolescents, the school setting can offer a safe haven from a difficult home situation. Within a diverse classroom, professional educators have a remarkable opportunity to teach and model tolerance, acceptance, communication skills, and responsibility, as well as provide warmth, caring, support, and structure. When a child or adolescent experiences an educator’s caring guidance, his or her life could be forever altered in a positive manner.

When considering effective behavior management, a professional educator should be mindful of how his or her behavior impacts the classroom environment. A prime example of an ineffective teacher is one who, in general, exhibits a “one size fits all” mentality where students are concerned. Although he teaches his subject exceptionally well, his personal bias consistently interferes with his ability to see learning differences—he believes learning disabilities do not exist. He misinterprets most student behavior as “laziness.” Very often, he will verbally humiliate students in front of their peers. When a student reacts negatively to this treatment, he blames the student rather than accepting any responsibility for his part in the behavioral disintegration process. His attacks on students makes them feel embarrassed and angry, and his behavior produces a hostile classroom environment, which results in the lack of learning. Clearly, this teacher’s lack of sensitivity and respect for individual differences is of concern. Unfortunately, he is likely not the only teacher who uses these negative tactics in the classroom. To foster competence, appropriate behavior, and proper social skills and to build to self-esteem and levels of self-efficacy, professional educators must be aware of their personal biases and be willing to work with all students, regardless of culture, socioeconomic status, and abilities or disabilities.

Discussion

A Temper Tantrum

In this weeks’ discussion post, I will be looking for creative intervention strategies, supported by this week’s reading and an additional supportive source. Your discussion post should be thoughtful and comprehensive. Remember to respond to two posts from your classmates.

Journal

Cultural Awareness

Using the demographics from your local school district, examine and discuss the diverse cultures within your school setting. In your journal entry, provide at least three ideas you would incorporate into your classroom that would reflect the diversity of the student population.

Assignment

Preventing School Violence

Create a PowerPoint or Prezi presentation (15–20 slides) or write an essay (4–5 pages) about a violence intervention or prevention program you would develop for middle or high school students. Your assignment should stipulate which population your intervention or prevention program is meant for, and it should address the creativity and viability of the program.

Recommended Resources

Dating Abuse

http://www.health.utah.gov/vipp/teens/dating-viole…

Kulture Kids

Kulture Kids is dedicated to promoting and enhancing arts and cultural awareness for children through adults.

http://www.kulturekids.org

Child Development Institute

http://childdevelopmentinfo.com/ages-stages/

References

Dawson, C. (2016). Week 2 instructor guidance [ESE 691: Behavior Management in the Classroom]. San Diego, CA: Ashford University.

Zirpoli, T. J. (2016). Behavior management: Positive applications for teachers (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.