P-WRS-06: Ability to Adjust Behavior

Teachers who adjust well help build the children’s feelings of acceptance by adapting their interaction style to meet the needs of individual children. This measure analyzes:

  • How consistently teachers adjust their style to meet children’s differences (Example: A teacher may talk softly to a shy or quiet child but may joke with a more boisterous child.)
  • How teachers consistently observe rejection or unfairness. Sometimes, teacher bias can be caused by challenging behaviors, demographic characteristics, or even an appropriate behavior a teacher personally finds undesirable. (Example: Two children spill water on the table. The teacher approaches the children and reprimands only one child, saying, “You always make a mess. You need to go to another center.”)
  • How teachers can positively single out children by giving a child extra attention and praise or opportunities the teacher does not offer to the other children, which can foster negativity. (Please note that when teachers award children recognitions like “Special Helper” or “Star of the Class” for accomplishments and good behavior, such an act is not considered singling out children.)

Category: Category 2: Teacher-Child Interactions Subcategory: Warm and Responsive Style

Examples

In this section you will find videos, images, and/or documents that can be used to better understand this measure. These examples can also be used in conversations between mentors, directors, and/or teachers to discuss how the program's current practices compare to these examples.

Adjusts Own Behavior
Video Example

In this series of exemplar video segments, teachers showcase their ability to adjust their behavior to meet the needs, interest and abilities of infant, toddlers, preschoolers and after school children throughout the day. The teachers show no preference or rejection towards any of the children in their care.

Age(s): Infant, Toddler, Preschool, School-age
Sponge Play
Video Example

During this water play activity, the caregiver gives all children the attention and assistance they need. Three of the children need help squeezing the sponge, while one child can complete the task independently. When one toddler shows interest in pouring the water from one bowl to the other, the teacher encourages everyone to try it.

Age(s): Toddler

Practice Opportunities

These resources include tips, strategies, activities, or specific tools related to this measure that programs can put into practice.

Temperament – What is it?
Temperament – What is it?
Publication

This publication from Penn State Extension describes temperament as a child’s emotional and behavioral way of responding to the world. The document provides ideas on how teachers or caregivers can demonstrate their ability to adjust their behavior in response to children’s temperaments.

Age(s): Infant, Toddler, Preschool, School-age
Understanding and Adapting to Individual Temperaments
Understanding and Adapting to Individual Temperaments
Publication

Understanding and Adapting to Individual Temperaments from The State Capacity Building Center (SCBC) describes temperament as “a person’s basic nature or natural way of being.” The document provides ideas on how teachers or caregivers can adjust their behavior in response to children’s temperaments.

Age(s): Infant, Toddler