Melvin is a new fifth grade teacher. Unfortunately, many of his new students have a history of failing to complete their assignments. He wants to encourage his students to complete all of their assignments and to do well on them. From a behavioral perspective, Melvin should

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

From a behavioral perspective, the most effective way to change a behavior is through reinforcement. Melvin should reinforce gradual approximations to the desired goal of completing all assignments. This could be done by rewarding or praising students who complete a certain percentage of their assignments, and gradually increasing the percentage required for reinforcement until all assignments are completed. Negative reinforcement and punishment are unlikely to be effective in the long term and could have negative effects on student motivation and morale. Leaving the problem to the parents is not a proactive solution and ignores the teacher's responsibility to help students succeed in their academic pursuits.

Melvin Is a New Fifth Grade Teacher