Blossoming Classroom Discussion

Undesirable Behavior: 35% of the class is inappropriately participating in classroom discussion. (Not raising hand, not
waiting to be called on by the teacher, yelling out answers) This behavior interferes with learning because it is not giving other
students an appropriate amount of think time. It also results in fewer students being able to answer questions and limits the
teachers ability to monitor the understanding of all students.
Desirable Behavior: Proper Classroom Discussion
-Eyes on speaker
-Listen to speaker
-Stay on topic
-Listen to the entire question
-Think about your response for 5 seconds
-Raise your hand and silently wait to be called on
-Listen quietly to everyone elses comments and questions
Types of Positive Reinforcement:
1. Immediate R+: When students display proper classroom discussion, I will give them a sunflower seed that they will
turn in for a puzzle piece or tool. (5 sunflower seeds = 1 puzzle piece, 50 sunflower seeds = 1 tool)
2. Ongoing R+: Students will see the puzzle of flowers begin to take form and see chart of tools being completed.
3. Overall R+: Puzzle completed and tools earned = students plant a school flower garden.
4. I will place a sunflower seed on a students desk when they display proper classroom discussion. Before students go to
lunch and during the last 10 minutes of the day, students will bring me the sunflower seeds they have earned
throughout the morning/day. In exchange for 1 puzzle piece, I will need 5 sunflower seeds. The students will then work
together to figure out where the pieces they have earned fit on the puzzle. The puzzle will be on the front board so
everyone can see the progress and will be attached with magnetic strips. After completing puzzle, students will work to
earn the tools needed to plant the garden. I will need 50 seeds for 1 tool. A chart of the tools will be posted on the
board. Each tool will be checked off as students earn seeds so students can see the progress.
Interactive Learning Activity: Second grade students will research different types of flowers that can grow in our area,
including what these plants need in order to survive. Working in small groups students will create design plans for how we will
plant the flowers in the garden. Once students have completed the 100-piece puzzle, they will then have to earn all the tools
needed to plant a garden. In order to earn each tool, they will need to earn 50 sunflower seeds. After students complete the
puzzle and earn all the tools, parent volunteers will help the class add soil, fertilizer, and dig holes so we can plant the flowers.
Once the flowers have been planted, students will water the plants, as needed, and watch the flowers begin to grow.
2.9(A) Identify basic needs of plants
2.9(B) Identify factors in environment (temperature and precipitation) that affect growth
Explain HOW you will teach the desired behaviors: Read My Mouth Is a Volcano by Julia Cook. After reading the book,
have students role model scenarios in which all students are blurting out and scenarios in which students are raising their hands
to speak or answer questions. Afterwards, discuss the importance of raising your hand and being ready to participate in
classroom discussions. In order to keep students paying attention, I will ask individual students if they agree/disagree with
another students response. They will then be required to explain why they agree or disagree. Through mini lessons, students
will practice waiting to respond to questions, raising hands silently, and listening and responding to everyone elses comments.
Explain HOW you will teach the plan: During direct teach time, I will place a sunflower seed on a students desk when they
display proper classroom discussion. Before students go to lunch and during the last 10 minutes of the day, students will hand
me their sunflower seeds to demonstrate how the process of earning seeds will go. I will need 5 seeds in exchange for one
puzzle piece. Students will have to complete a 4-piece puzzle to earn the reward of going outside to see the area where we will
be planting the flower garden. After students see the area, they can get into small groups to begin researching what type of
flowers they want to plant in the garden.
Provide Options: Instead of doing a puzzle, students could fill in a picture of a flower using construction paper pieces that
have been torn into small squares. Also, instead of placing a sunflower seed on a students desk, I can draw tally marks on the
board. 5 tally marks = one puzzle piece.
Demonstrate all Necessary Items: Soil, seeds, water hose, planters, rakes, gloves, shovels, water, fertilizer