Reflection #5

Concept #1 Personal Messages
I believe this to the most important concept I've learned in my Early Childhood Education courses. I understand the four parts to the personal message and I've practiced using them during my fieldwork. The 4 "R's" for personal messages are are REFLECTION: give a reflection of the behavior you see. REACTION: attach an emotion. REASON: give a reason that relates to the child (not to others because preschool age children are so egocentric that they actually can't empathize). RULE: Remind the child of the rule.

Concept #2 Conflict/Resolution
This is a process that I know I will use often with young children. Step 1: act as the mediator separating the children. Step 2: Have the children take turns explaining when they think happened. Step 3: Sum up the problem and let the children know they are responsible for the problem and coming up with the solution. Step 4: Let the children come up with possible solutions. Step 5: Help the children agree on one solution Step 6: Praise the children for coming up with a solution. Step 7: Help the children carry out the terms of the agreement. I have trying to practice this in my fieldwork but so far I have not made it all the way to step 7. The children usually just start doing something else and the conflict is resolved so I just let it be.

Concept #3 Consequences
I really like the chapter about consequences. Knowing the different types of consequences will help me to be an effective teacher and mother. I have learned that the first consequence that should be used is a positive consequence when a child is doing something good. Here is the order of consequences that should be used when a child is misbehaving; Natural Consequence: this happen with out intervention. Logical Consequence: there are 3 categories: Rehearsal: children practice desired behavior. Restitution: child makes amends for the misbehavior. Temporary Loss of Privilege: Child looses the privilege he/she has abused. Unrelated Consequence: a consequence manufactured by the adult in response to the child's misbehavior.

Concept #4 Self-Discipline
As we learned about the levels of self-discipline it helped me make the connection to everything else we've been learning about. Everything we do with children should help them get to the Internalization level of self-discipline. The first level is Amoral: no sense of right and wrong. the second level is Adherence: responds to rewards and punishments, needs physical and verbal assistance. the third stage is Identification: adopts behavior codes of admired others the fourth and final stage of self-discipline is Internalization; the level we hope all children will achieve.

Concept #5 The Intervention Continuum
This is such a great tool in helping children achieve Internalization. It allows a child so many opportunities to correct their behavior with out intervention from the adult.

I have learned so much from this class that is will help me be a good teacher and mother. Thanks for being a great teacher with a genuine desire to help us learn the important skills and concepts.