Corrective Teaching

Pre-Service Workshop: Treatment Foster Care

Corrective Teaching

Corrective Teaching: a way to correct a behavior, give a consequence, and teach an appropriate behavior instead

• an effective and positive way to give a consequence
• Giving/getting a consequence doesn’t have to be a punishing experience!

When To Use Corrective Teaching

• Use when…
• a behavior needs to be corrected
• youth behaves inappropriately
• breaks a rule or tolerance level

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Corrective Teaching

Benefits

• Teaches social skills

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• Helps youth know what to do instead

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• Aids in relationship building

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• Builds self-esteem

Corrective Teaching

Sometimes we (or parents) may want to…

• ignore negative behavior
• give numerous prompts over and over again.
• Just give a consequence and not teach/practice the appropriate alternative behavior

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However, none of these are more effective than Corrective Teaching. They actually cause more problems. How so?

Positive Correction

• A way to earn “half back” or a decreased consequence for practicing the correct behavior or fixing the incorrect behavior
• Should only be up to half back, not more. Why?
• Gives hope, creates learning
• Shows fairness, creates positive atmosphere

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Quality Components

• Always use the youth’s name
• Calm, level voice tone
• Same physical plane
• Pleasant facial expressions
• Non-threatening body posture
• Appropriate physical touch
• Monitor all body language

Overview of Steps

1. Empathy or praise statement

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• Get child’s attention and stop negative behavior if currently happening

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• Describe the negative behavior

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• Give negative consequence

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• Describe appropriate behavior with youth centered rationale

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• Offer positive correction (role play 3x min)

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• Give positive consequence

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Initial Praise/Empathy

• Praise
• Sets the tone for the interaction
• Maintains the relationship
• Empathy
• Lets youth know that you are on their side and understand
• Maintains the relationship

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Example: “You did a great job of asking permission for the snack.”

Example: “I understand that you really want an extra snack”

Stop Behavior

• Get child’s attention and stop problem behavior if currently happening

Example: “Please stop arguing.”

Describe Negative Behavior

• Sets tolerances and expectations
• Helps youth recognize and take responsibility for their behavior
• Use descriptive language/ avoid judgmental statements

Example: “You didn’t Accept No when I said you couldn’t have an extra snack and started arguing with me.”

Negative Consequence

• Serves as a deterrent
• Helps show connection between action and outcome
• Should be the smallest possible while being effective
• Use the word, “EARNED”

Example: “For not Accepting no, you have lost dessert for the night .”

Description of Appropriate Behavior with Rationale

• Sets expectations for appropriate behavior
• Tells them what to do instead
• Be specific
• Rationale- Reason why it’s important to the youth to do the new behavior
• One sentence and youth centered

Example: “Next time someone gives you a ‘no’ answer, you need to look at the person, stay calm, say ‘ok’, and stop talking about it. When you can do that I can trust you more and say yes more often.”

Positive Correction (Role Play)

• Gives the youth an opportunity to demonstrate the skill
• Helps youth internalize behavior
• Same situation
• Have the youth practice until they can do it correctly

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Example: “Now you try. Ask me if you can go outside.”

Positive Consequence (Up to half-back)

• Reinforces using positive behavior instead, and increases likelihood of future use
• Builds relationship with the youth
• Demonstrates fairness

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Example: “For practicing Accepting no, you have EARNED back 1 scoop instead of 2 of ice cream dessert.”

Review of Steps

• Empathy or praise statement

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• Get child’s attention and stop negative behavior if currently happening

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• Describe the negative behavior

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• Give negative consequence

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• Describe appropriate behavior with youth centered rationale

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• Offer positive correction (role play 3x min)

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• Give positive consequence

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