The IRIS Modules from The IRIS Center at the Peabody College of Vanderbilt University provides a wealth of information related to positive behavior reinforcement and its implementation with students, particularly with exceptional students. I found this week’s particular module to be helpful and reinforced what I had previously learned from my experiences of working with middle school students.
Middle school students are a different breed all together from any other grade band. They bring their own challenges that are a mix of younger age groups and those of older students. It is a precarious balance of treating them like the young adults that they are becoming and remembering that they are not yet emotionally and mentally mature enough to make certain decisions. We as educators need to remember that they need the healthy boundaries of a specific and explicit Positive Behavior Management Plan to guide them to making good decisions while in school.