DOCUMENT RESUME ED 386 634 CG 026 450 AUTHOR Cassell, Joan R. Improving Self-Control in Upper Elementary Students TITLE through a Program of Character, Civic, and Social Education. PUB DATE 95 61p.; Ed.D. Practicum, Nova'University. NOTE Dissertations/Theses PUB TYPE Practicum Papers (043) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 elus Postage. Adolescent Development; Attitude Change; Behavior DESCRIPTORS Change; *Behavior Development; Behav:or Modification; Behavior Problems; Child Behavior; *Citizenship Education; Counseling; Curriculum Development; *Elementary School Students; Emotional Development; Grade 4; Grade 6; *Guidance Programs; Intermediate Grades; Interpersonal Communication; Intervention; *Moral Development; School Counseling; *Self Control; Student Behavior ABSTRACT This practicum was designed to improve students' ability to determine appropriate behavior for various places within the school and to learn self-control to comply wi:h expectations. Specifically, the practicum intended to decrease ihe number of referrals to administrators and the counselor for out-of-control student behavior and decrease the number of observable out-of-control behaviors in the cafeteria, library, and playgro.rnd. Students involved in Le program included 237 4th and 6!_ri graders. "We the People" text was used to include lessons on citizenship. Focus was placed on one positive character trait and one social skill each month. The prcgram was enriched through role-play, debates, and literature. Upon completion of the implementation, analysis of the data revealed a 34% decrease in the number of administrative referrals, and a 497. decrease in observable out-of-control behaviors. The data was analyzed through a comparison of the results of systematic collection and categorization of administrative and counselor referrals before and after implementation and through comparison of the frequency of behaviors before and after implementation. The instrument used for observation was an observation frequency chart. (Author/JBJ) *********************************************************************** * * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Improving Self-Control in Upper Elementary Students Through a Program of Characters. Civic, and Social Education by Joan R. Cassell Cluster 51 A Practicum II Report Presented to the Ed. D. Program in Child and Youth Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education NOVA UNIVERSITY U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DUCMIONAI IN! ORMAI ION 41; T 0 I-1T PHI irAit;E, II. tiM TT,T,ION 1995 CENTER ERIC n1A!, BEEN clIANII !, It O This document has boon lememi, immeimihmnthem.mm,mmq,m,/,itmn T- C4 5-5-Eu. ,,,Kimatmga n kfinopcharw.,Ildvehr,,,,,o.N. BEST COPY AVAILABLE dOCIMirV44.4,waTM AlmlOnwd,ry T HE EDuctOioNAI RESOURCES INFORMATION CENEE R (MCI A. PRACTICUM APPROVAL SHEET This practicus took place as described. Cl Frank Bensinger 2rincigaL2arant.ligge_Silisantara_bighmal Title Pantan.4.._YA Address April 23, 1995 This practicum report was submitted by Joan Cassell under the direction of the adviser listed below. It was submitted to the Ed. D. Program in Child and Youth Studies and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education at Nova University. Date of Final Approval G.orgiann 1.031---Ed Table of Contents iii Table of Contents iv List of Tables Abstract Chapter INTRODUCTION I Description of Community 1 Writer's Role in the Work Setting 2 STUDY OF THE PROBLEM II Problem Description 3 Problem Documentation 4 10 Causative Analysis Relationship of the Problem to Literature 11 ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES AND EVALUATION III Goals and Expectations 19 19 Expected Outcomes Measurement of Outcomes 19 SOLUTION STRATEGY IV Discussion and Evaluation of Solution 21 Description of Selected Solution 29 Report of Action Taken 31 RESULTS, DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS V 37 Results 44 Discussion 49 Recommendations 49 Dissemination 51 REFERENCES Appendicies ADMINISTRATIVE REFERRAL FORM 53 A 54 FREQUENCY OBSERVATION CHART B 55 COUNSELOR REFERRAL FORM C iii 4 7 LIST OF TABLES Table Number of Males and Females in Grades 1 4 and 6, Categorized by Race 4 Nature and Frequency of Offenses Referred 2 to the Administration 5 Incidents of Physical and Verbal Behaviors 3 Indicating No Self-Control 8 Nature and Number of Incidents Referred to 4 the Counselor Indicating No Self-Control 9 Nature and Frequency of Offenses Referred 5 to the Administration Before and After Implementation of the Program 39 Observed Incidents of Physical and Verbal 6 Behaviors Indicating No Self-Control 41 Nature and Number of Incidents Referred to 7 the Counselor Indicating No Self-Control 43 iv Abstract Improving Self-Control in Upper Elementary Students Through a Program of Character, Civic,. and Social Education. Practicum Report, Nova University Cassell, Joan R., 1995: Ed. D. Program in Child and Youth Studies. Citizenship/Moral Development/Self-Discipline/Character Education/Social Skills. This practicum was designed to improve students' ability to determine the appropriate behavior for various places within the school and to have the self-control to comply with the Specifically the practicum was designed to expectations. decrease the number of referrals to administrators and the counselor for out-of-control student behavior and decrease the number of observable out-of-control behaviors in the cafeteria, library and playground. The writer used the We the People text which included The writer focused on one positive lessons on citizenship. The character trait and one social skill each month. program was enriched through role-play, debates and literature. Upon completion of the implementation, analysis of the data administrative a 34% decrease in the number of revealed: referrals, a decrease of 53%, and a decrease in observable The data was analyzed out-of-control behaviors of 49%. through a comparison of the results of systematic collection and categorization of administrative and counselor referrals before and after implementation and through comparison of the frequency of behaviors before and after implementation. The instrument used for observation was an observation frequency chart. *************** Permission Statement As a student in the Ed.D. Program in Child and Youth Studies, I give permission to Nova University to distribute copies of this practicum report on request from interested It is my understanding that Nova University individuals. will not charge for this dissemination except to cover the costs of microfiching, handling, and mailing of the materials. I Signature Date Chapter I INTRODUCTION The Writer's Work Setting The writer works in an elementary school with 744 The school is located in a planned community students. The school has a great deal of about 25 years old. Included in the socioeconomic and cultural diversity. geographic area are expensive single family homes, low income apartments and middle-class dwellings. This The student population of the school totals 742. 392 white, 167 hispanic, 121 black, and 57 Asian. includes: The school houses a gifted and talented center, school-based gifted program, English as a Second Language (ESL) Program, and self-contained and resource services for students with learning disabilities. The staff includes 2 administrators, 32 classroom teachers, 16 specialists teachers, 1 full-time and 1 half- time counselor, 9 instructional assistants, 1 part time social worker, 1 part-time psychologist, 1 full-time speech therapist, 1 parent liaison, 6 secretaries and 5 custodians. The school is considered by the county as a "special The areas considered in qualifying for needs" school. ethnicity, number of students special needs status are: receiving free and reduced priced lunches, mobility rate, and scatter of standardized test scores. 7 The writer's school is 58% minority when the students There are 208 in the Gifted Center are not considered. students receiving free lunch and 72 receiving reduced population's mobility rate is very high. The school lunch. Students are gained and lost frequently. By qualifying for special needs status, the school is These include reduced entitled to'special services. pupil/teacher ratio for first grade (15 to 1), Reading Recovery, Stepped Up Math (SUM), Stepped Up Language Arts There is also a Saturday school and (SULA), and FAST Math. summer accelerated learning program for at-risk students. The Writers Role in the Work Setting The The writer is the counselor for the school. writer provides assistance to the students in their social, Assistance is provided emotional and academic development. through individual and group counseling, classroom guidance activities, administrative and teacher consultations, child study team, local screening committee for special services, and referring parents to services available outside the school. 8 Chapter 2 STUDY OF THE PROBLEM Problem Description Students in the 4th and 6th grades exhibited behaviors that interfered with their social and academic success. Often they were referred because of their inability to exercise self-control in the classroom, playground, The referral was given to either cafeteria, and hallways. the administration for discipline or the counselor for guidance. Briefly stated, the problem was that students exhibited an inability to exercise self-control, which inhibited their social and academic potential and often resulted in disciplinary action. The students involved in the program were approximately Fourth and sixth grades were 237 4th and 6th graders. selected because they have a large number of at-risk Students were considered at-risk by meeting one students. of the following criteria: irregular attendance, multiple discipline referrals, below grade level academic achievement, inconsistent or no parental support, and Table one shows the consistent problems with socialization. number of males and females in each grade level, categorized by race. 9 4 Table 1 The Number of Males and Females in Grades 4 and 6, Categorized by Race. Grade 6 Grade 4 Female Totals Male Race Female Kale 129 White 23 35 35 36 46 Black 16 10 12 8 40 Hispanic 8 15 12 5 26 Other 6 8 9 3 241 Totals 41 59 71 66 Problem Documentation Data from the administrative referrals (see appendix A) for September 1993 through February 1994 shown in Table 2 separates the nature of the offenses for referrals into 5 physical aggression, uncooperative major categories: behavior, obsessive talking, rudeness and other. jo