I don't understand what it is asking for or how i am suppose to know which in the story is positive... to me it doesnt seem like anything is positive.... if someone could help that would be great

Question

You are meeting with other tenth grade teachers to discuss some issues with the in-school detention program. Mr. Hawkins, an algebra teacher, is describing his experiences with Tad in order to highlight what he thinks is wrong with the current in-school suspension approach. Tad has failed algebra twice, and he dislikes math in general. He tends to be a daily disruption, and behavior escalates almost every day until Mr. Hawkins has to send him to detention. Mr. Hawkins hates kicking Tad out of class, because Tad is missing a lot of instruction. Also, Mr. Hawkins was walking by detention last week, and he noticed Tad joking and messing around with some other students in detention. Ann, the paraprofessional in charge of the detention room, seemed to be ignoring the behavior. When Mr. Hawkins talked to Ann about what he observed, she told him that the principal had warned her that these students do a lot of attention seeking behavior. He further suggested that she try to ignore as much of it as possible.

1. How is Tad’s disruptive behavior being positively reinforced?

2. How is Tad’s disruptive behavior being negatively reinforced?

3. Why are Ann’s attempts to ignore the students’ behavior in the detention room unlikely to extinguish those behaviors?

4. Assuming that the detention process can be improved, why might Tad’s disruptive behaviors continue? What else would Mr. Hawkins need to consider in helping Tad?

Answer 1

1. How is Tad’s disruptive behavior being positively reinforced? Positive reinforcement is getting things that you want -- rewards. Do you think he might be enjoying his activities in detention?

2. How is Tad’s disruptive behavior being negatively reinforced? Negative reinforcement is getting rid of things you don't like. What doesn't he like that he is avoiding?

3. Why are Ann’s attempts to ignore the students’ behavior in the detention room unlikely to extinguish those behaviors? See the answers to the two questions above.

4. Assuming that the detention process can be improved, why might Tad’s disruptive behaviors continue? What else would Mr. Hawkins need to consider in helping Tad? Any behavior that has been reinforced for a long time, especially on a variable schedule, will take along time to go to extinction. To make algebra more appealing, he could connect the problems to activities that Tad enjoys. Detention can be made less enjoyable. Can you think of anything else?

I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.