Coding Scheme

Name of participant:

Teaching Certification(s): Elementary K-6;

Education Level (Highest degree attained) M.A.

Total years of teaching experience: 5

Years of teaching students in preschool through third grade? 5

Date & time of interview: 8/3/18- 11:00

1. Are you currently or have you ever implemented a group contingency plan to manage your students’ behavior? (If the response if “yes” then ask all questions-; if the response is “no” then proceed to use questions 8-10)

Yes.

2. How long have you been implementing group contingency plans? How did you learn about the plan?

The last three years. So my two years before this district, I taught in Oakland California and it was like a disadvantaged community I guess really a different environment than what I teach in now. so I spent a lot of time with their school psychologist like talking about how to manage behavior so things that I was like building but it's like the last three years is when I really like started to implement them.

3. Describe the type of group contingency plan you are using.  (If not provided in the answer, ask about behavior criteria, schedule reinforcement, types of reinforcers, BSP, tracking system, use of visuals.)

I'm currently using a sticker chart… so I have like 12 different classes that I see in a week. And the chart would just have the class name on the chart and then for any like positive behavior during whole class transitions or when everyone is focused on the assignment, or everyone follows directions the first time, they can earn like earn the star or a sticker… and then for every like 15 stars or stickers they earned like a classroom reward. which was usually like 10 or 15 minutes of free time so like at the end of the class once they completed their task they can move on to either like free computer game or they could build with some of the building materials.

4. How did you decide to use this type of plan?

I had seen another teacher use it maybe another like specialist teacher. I just use those tracker things. I like to keep it posted. So in previous years I used class dojo but it wasn't always accessible when I had something else on the smart board. I liked having this that they can even see it when we are using the smart board. Also I can have a helper do the stars or stickers for me as like a responsibility. They were also excited to do that so I tried class dojo and some other ones and they were still a group wide and still like the interdependent where everyone needed to be doing it. But I saw this one and thought I could be easier to manage for me so I gave it a try and for the most part think it went well this year.

5. How do you monitor the effectiveness of this plan? Does anyone else assist in monitoring or overseeing the plan?

I guess I seehow many stars they like are earning. it also checks me, like am I rewarding them when I should be. And if that’s like a motivating factor so if I were to say something like if you have a smooth transition back to your desks you'll earn a sticker. Or we need like three more to get to our goal. If that seems to be like… like …some of them students get like really excited about that. Or they’ll come in and be like two more and we get be free time today.

6. How do you determine what the reinforcers will be associated with the group contingencyplan?

so that I have tried it for a couple years. I don't want to spend money on like a treasure chest I also think it could be a lot for having 300 kids. I felt like giving them free time with things they liked seemed to have worked. Like something that they were looking forward to earning…so in general I go by their interests. They like playing on the computer just like free games and some like to build so they kind of have a choice of couple different things.

7. Do you believe this plan has decreased disruptive behavior and increased appropriate behavior (Ask their beliefs about specific components they believe contributes to reducing disruptive behavior and increasing appropriate behavior, if not provided)?

For me I think making it like posted and available for them to see changed it. This way I can have someone in charge of stars for that week and their job was to be like anytime I noticed that were on task they get to put it on and they liked having that responsibility. So I think having a visually accessible to them so they can check with it at any minute and compare themselves to other classes or grade levels. They will be like wow we have like the most in second grade. This competition helped them to behave. That was a factor, but not the main thing.

8. Have you ever implemented an individual contingency plan?

Yes. I do find that the individual plans are challenging when I have so many classes like I need to be more organized with like remembering that. Or sometimes they don't always have the datasheet. But as far as my class, the group plan is effective overall because I only have like 40 minutes with the students

9. What behavior management resources/supports are currently available to you for managing classroom behavior?

Well I have definitely come to the child study team now. I know that the school psychologist and the school social worker did a presentation on classroom management and I use a lot of the resources they provided. It gave me a lot of ideas and things I might try next year and add on to what I am doing. I have also asked other teachers. And teachers in a similar position as mine, that see multiple classes for a shorter period of time. So mostly just like talking to more experts, since I still only have taught for a few years.

10. Are there any final thoughts or feelings concerning behavior management you wish to share?

Um I just feel like this is something that like I’m always working on. And I definitely have a hard time figuring out what works because my set up is different than a classroom teachers. So I’m still struggling to figure out what works for me and like the students. I do feel like organization would help me be better at it. I do think that sometimes this plan isn’t working for this class, but it is for another class. Do I abandon it completely, change it for that one class. How do I make it fit for everyone? I ask myself, is that really a possibility?

CRITICAL INCIDENT REPORT

During the interview process, you indicated that you have or currently are implementing a group contingency plan.  Please respond to the following questions. You may handwrite or type your responses. Thank you for your time.

Have you experienced any positive or rewarding outcomes regarding the implementation of a group contingency plan? If your answer is yes, please describe your experience(s) in detail. If your answer is no, please indicate whether you would change your implementation of a group contingency plan, and why.

Yes, I have noticed some positive behavior changes with challenging classes. I have also noticed some challenging students shift some of their behaviors due to the group contingency plans because they want to fit in and they want to earn the group reward.

Have you experienced any unsuccessful outcomes regarding the implementation of a group contingency plan? Please describe.

Yes, there are some classes or some specific students who have not found success with the group contingency plans because they did not meet their needs and/or did not motivate them to change their behavior.  For example, I had one student who had frequently had meltdowns in class and was not socially motivated so his behavior was not impacted by the group contingency plan.

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