By Samantha Layne and Susanne Croasdaile

Samantha Layne and Susanne Croasdaile's article, "A UDL Strategy to Help Students Communicate," featured in MiddleWeb, delves into the pressing issue of unkind verbal interactions among students and its impact on classroom community and tone. They stress the importance of teaching behavior akin to academic subjects, highlighting a consistent strategy of modeling and intentional planning, especially during the first 20 days of class, to instill positive habits and routines.

The educators utilize the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to address challenges, focusing on the "Cautious Corner" - Guidelines 6, 8, and 9 of the UDL Guidelines 2.0. This area emphasizes the importance of guiding students in choosing their words and controlling their tone, skills that are critical for developing a positive classroom community and essential for collaboration and internal motivation.

The article points out that effective communication is not innate but learned through explicit instruction. It underscores the necessity for educators to actively teach and model prosocial skills, avoiding assumptions that students will naturally excel in peer interactions. By referring to William Golding's "Lord of the Flies," Layne and Croasdaile argue for the deliberate teaching of these skills to prevent negative behaviors.

The piece details their classroom strategy, starting with a review of TRIBE PBIS expectations and focusing on kindness through positive language. Despite these efforts, they noticed minimal improvement in students' communication, prompting a reassessment of their approach. They introduced the THINK mnemonic (True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind) to encourage students to reflect before speaking, which gradually improved the classroom atmosphere and facilitated better learning.

Layne and Croasdaile's persistence in teaching and modeling appropriate behavior, coupled with consistent expectations, ultimately led to a more conducive learning environment. They highlight the significance of starting slowly with foundational skills to eventually accelerate academic progress, advocating for structure, routine, and consistency in teaching.

Their experiences underscore the essential role of educators in fostering positive communication and collaboration through explicit instruction and modeling. By adopting a UDL framework and dedicating time to teach social skills, teachers can build a more positive classroom community, enhancing both social and academic outcomes for their students.

The article serves as a valuable resource for educators seeking effective strategies to improve communication and behavior in their classrooms, illustrating the potential of thoughtful, consistent approaches to make a significant difference in the learning environment.

(Source: MiddleWeb, "A UDL Strategy to Help Students Communicate" by Samantha Layne and Susanne Croasdaile, published on March 4, 2024)

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com