Education is Stupid Part 2: "All Behavior is Communication"

[SweetSue92]

Like all pabulum, there is SOME truth to this, and more truth for children than adults. But it is far from true in all (or even most) circumstances.

Example: the tantruming three year old who just gave up naps, has a cold, and is hungry is probably telling you she is hungry, tired, and doesn't feel good. Fair.

The ten year old who is clowning to make his friends laugh during school is--clowning to make his friends laugh. He has nothing to tell you. He is being a ten year old. He will get away with it for as long as you allow it.

For most thinking people this is not rocket science. It is common sense.

But then there is the Education Complex who says we must get to the root of the communication of this behavior.

"Behavior is communication" can be found all over the internet, but here is one mind-deadening example:

Understanding behavior as communication: A teacher’s guide

Understanding that behavior is a form of communication can help teachers reframe what they’re seeing and not take student behavior personally.

www.understood.org

 

[rampart]

Like all pabulum, there is SOME truth to this, and more truth for children than adults. But it is far from true in all (or even most) circumstances.

Example: the tantruming three year old who just gave up naps, has a cold, and is hungry is probably telling you she is hungry, tired, and doesn't feel good. Fair.

The ten year old who is clowning to make his friends laugh during school is--clowning to make his friends laugh. He has nothing to tell you. He is being a ten year old. He will get away with it for as long as you allow it.

For most thinking people this is not rocket science. It is common sense.

But then there is the Education Complex who says we must get to the root of the communication of this behavior.

"Behavior is communication" can be found all over the internet, but here is one mind-deadening example:

Understanding behavior as communication: A teacher’s guide

Understanding that behavior is a form of communication can help teachers reframe what they’re seeing and not take student behavior personally.

www.understood.org

parents, and teachers, do pay attention to these cues.

i communicate with my pets as well as anyone by watching for their little "tells, "

if a teacher notices something that will improve your child's life, isn't that good? you may not be the first to notice that the child needs glasses or such.

 

[SweetSue92]

parents, and teachers, do pay attention to these cues.

i communicate with my pets as well as anyone by watching for their little "tells, "

if a teacher notices something that will improve your child's life, isn't that good? you may not be the first to notice that the child needs glasses or such.

Squinting at the board = behavior that is communication that the child can't see. I agree with this.

From my example in the OP: a ten year old clowning to make his friends laugh does NOT automatically mean he is traumatized, hungry, bored, tired or anything. It LIKELY means he is being ten.

That's why the phrase "ALL behavior is communication" is stupid.

 

[JoeB131]

Like all pabulum, there is SOME truth to this, and more truth for children than adults. But it is far from true in all (or even most) circumstances.

Example: the tantruming three year old who just gave up naps, has a cold, and is hungry is probably telling you she is hungry, tired, and doesn't feel good. Fair.

The ten year old who is clowning to make his friends laugh during school is--clowning to make his friends laugh. He has nothing to tell you. He is being a ten year old. He will get away with it for as long as you allow it.

For most thinking people this is not rocket science. It is common sense.

But then there is the Education Complex who says we must get to the root of the communication of this behavior.

"Behavior is communication" can be found all over the internet, but here is one mind-deadening example:

Understanding behavior as communication: A teacher’s guide

Understanding that behavior is a form of communication can help teachers reframe what they’re seeing and not take student behavior personally.

www.understood.org

I feel horrible for any kid who has Sue as a teacher. She sounds nastier than the meanest nun who turned me off from Catholicism.

 

[JoeB131]

Squinting at the board = behavior that is communication that the child can't see. I agree with this.

From my example in the OP: a ten year old clowning to make his friends does NOT automatically mean he is traumatized, hungry, bored, tired or anything. It LIKELY means he is being ten.

That's why the phrase "ALL behavior is communication" is stupid.

Sue loses a battle of wits with a ten year old.

 

[Unkotare]

A teacher who doesn’t at least try to understand why a student is doing what he’s doing isn’t really teaching.