Last year I wrote Classes of Donkeys, about a tool called ‘Class Dojo’. Just recently Karen Langdon wrote Thinking About Classroom Dojo – Why Not Just Tase Your Kids Instead? It basically approaches the same concerns I have, but from a different angle… and it adds further value by suggesting alternative approaches to dealing with behaviour issues in what I’d consider more appropriate ways than punishment/reward behaviour modification.

I thought I’d take a quick moment at the start of the year to look back at a couple very funny ‘behaviour modification’ moments in television sitcoms. The first one dates back to 1988:  Cheers, Season 7, Episode 7, “How to Win Friends and Electrocute People“.

The second one is much more recent, The Big Bang Theory, Season 3, Episode 3, “The Gothowitz Deviation“.

The best behaviour modification going is engaging students in meaningful work that matters. Educators have incredible power, and we can choose to help foster a love of learning in our students (and ourselves) or we spend our time managing students and their behaviour.

Here is to a great year ahead!