What strategies did Helen use to gain cooperation from the children? Were they effective? Why or why not? Helen followed DAP Guidline 1 C(1)- “Teachers help children develop responsibility and self-regulation. Recognizing that such abilities and behaviors develop with experience and time, teachers consider how to foster such development in their interactions with each child in their curriculum”
Helen sat on the floor with each of the students (she was on their level) and sang a song as she put on the children’s boots. The song went like this, “Child’s Name is wearing red boots, red boots, red boots, Child’s Name is wearing red boots so they can go outside.” I would say Helen’s strategies were very effective. All the students were excited to join Helen in singing the boot song and help her with putting their boots on. Even the one student who was upset about the color of the boots was happy to take part in the boot song and process, once Helen grabbed the right color.
Another strategy Helen used was with the student who did not come over to put her boots on. The student was preoccupied with the baby doll she was playing with. Helen told the student to make sure the baby is okay and then to come over and put her boots on. I think this was a good response. Helen does not get upset with the student for not responding to her, she kindly asks her to finish her task then come over.
Meg, I found your post very interesting as I did not read this case. The students in my class go to music once a week and the teacher always has them all sit and she calls each one of them to stand up one at a time and we all sing about something that they have on such as pink bow, red dress etc. The children love, love, love to sing this song and I think they love the individualized attention that they get. Although when we sing the song it is not to help them with self-regulation, your example made me think of all kinds of situations where this song could be sung as we help the children to do things on their own. I think any activity that they do on their own can be helpful with a song and can help to motivate them. For example, when my two year old students are on the potty, we usually sing a song about how they are doing it all by themselves like a big girl or boy and they love it and I think that it really encourages them to want to do it on their own! It sounds like this teacher definitely helped the children to develop responsibility and self-regulation.
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