EDUC 2130

Lesson Discussion Seven

 

Lesson Discussion Seven was centered around a young boy named Jacinto. Students were required to listen to a podcast about him and hopefully learn from his sad home life. The story was an example of what not to do to a student who may have home problems and avoid labeling him as a bad child.

 

Lesson Question 1. In a couple of paragraphs, describe Jacinto.

 

Jacinto had a rough upbringing. With the absence of his mother and father , he grew up being moved between foster homes. His mother was addicted to drugs and his abusive father would come in and out of his life. At sixteen years of age he was sent to live with his grandmother, after his foster family moved out of the state. He was an angry child who often had emotional outbusrsts.

 

Lesson Question 2. When Jacinto told his teacher (Tom McIntyre) to "blank" Off - what was the teacher's response?

 

The teacher was attempting to correct Jacinto by telling him he could not end his sentence with a preposition and to please attempt the sentence again. However, that angered Jacinto and and he begin to write ugly words. The teacher, Tom McIntyre was aware of Jacinto's anger problems and felt it best to not address the issue and therefore not feeding into Jacinto's actions.

 

Lesson Question 3. What happened to Jacinto?

 

While living with his grandmother Jacinto's behavior begins to gradually improve. Sadly, one day his grandmother has a stroke and he has to go live with his cousin who is also into bad behavior. Jacinto fell back into old habits and joins a gang with his cousin. He is eventually caught of a crime and sent to a juvenile detention center where he is lonely and feels let down.

 

Lesson Question 4. Based on what happened to Jacinto, why do you think the teacher, Tom McIntyre, wanted to share this story?

 

Personally, I feel like Tom McIntyre wanted to share Jacinto's stroy to show that an individual's actions are often influenced by events in their lives. Often we do not know of the struggles that one has went thru in their lifes and how those struggles have impacted who they are today. By being nuturing and understanding towards individuals has the potential to make an impact on their future. As educators we have the ability to make a difference in the lives of youth.

 

Lesson Question 5. Describe two of the most important (in your opinion) things you learned by listening to this story.

 

There are two important lessons to learn from Jacinto's story. First, a teacher is able to learn a child's actions and behavior and thru that knowledge can make an effective plan for discipline. In Jacinto's case Tom McIntyre felt it was best to just sit back and not bring attention to many of his negative actions because that would only anger him and make the situation worse. All indiviudals are different and the way in which each one needs to be nurtured or disciplined will be different as well. Secondly, is the fact that we are unaware of the home life of many individuals. In todays's society many children come from a broken home or are neglected and abused. Having an open mind and an understanding that their actions may be a way of getting the attention they have not recieved or a result of the treatment they have endured is crucual in becoming an effective educator.

 

Lesson Question 6. Did the community let Jacinto down? Why or why not?

 

I do believe that the community let Jacinto down. They had a preset notion that he was a bad child and didnt think twice. This happens all to often now a days. If we, as members of society, reached out to misguided individuals there is no telling the difference we could make in the lives of those individuals. We have the ability to make a difference in the way such indiviudals become part of society . Giving on indiviudals without making an effort to help them better themselves is not only unfair but doing a diservice to our community.

 

Summary

 

Many children that are in today's classrooms have some form of home and family issues. Their behavior can be a direct result of that and their past. We all to often label them as bad individuals with anger problems. I enjoyed this article because it is an issue that is seen often in today's classrooms.

 

Research Question

 

What is an effective way to deal with bad behavior in the classroom?

 

Research References

 

http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2009/07/31/how-to-handle-disrespectful-students/

 

Research Analysis

 

Mistakingly teacher's often take the actions of a disruptive student personally. When a teacher does this one of two things usually happens. Either the teacher will feel they need to get even with the student or they will react with anger and scold the individual. Both will only encourage the bad bahavior to continue. A classroom management plan is useful to have in such situations. Implementing a management plan to be used whenever bad behavior arises will help to not only control the classroom but show all individuals they are equal and hopefully prevent one acting out because they feel they are being targeted or recieve harsher treatment.

 

Research Summary

 

I found my research to be very enlightening. I, myself, feel like I will have a weakness of trying to react one of the two ways mentioned in my research, but know I will know that is the wrong way to handle such situaions. I now understand the negative effects that reacting in such a way will have on my students and my classroom.