'Broccoli is horrible it really sucks!' exclaimed the year 7 student. 'No it doesn't,' said another. I like it!' A quick survey of the class indicated that most didn't like broccoli however a few did. Similarly with brussell sprouts but fewer still liked them.
Substitute 'broccoli' with 'maths' or 'school' and you can do the same excercise and get similar results. Of course students will like or dislike whatever it is they like or dislike but the object of their approval or disapproval isn't the cause of this i.e. it's more about what they think about broccoli. Broccoli is just broccoli and isn't good or bad unless of course you believe it is! Same for maths, school, gerbils and elderberries.
This is what REBT teaches students and if this is true then perhaps we can change how we feel about things if we change how we think about them. This is the mission of Rational Emotive Behaviour Education (REBE). Based on Albert Ellis' Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy REBE introduces to children his ABC Theory of Emotional Disturbance. This helps students understand that the thing or happening in question isn't entirely responsible for how he/she feels and acts i.e. that what happens (A) exclusively makes feelings and behaviours (C-emotional and behvaioural consequence). What he/she believes (B) plus the happening or thing (A) makes the actions and feelings experienced (C) i.e A+B=C!
So things like broccoli and brussell sprouts are neither good or bad unless you think they are. It would be helpful for students to reflect on the type of thinking which apportions blame exclusively to other things/events outside of the self e.g. 'it makes me mad when I have to pack up.' Better to rethink and ask ourselves 'what is happening that I believe shouldn't be happening? What am I getting that I don't want? ' Is 'it' making me angy or am I making me angry?'
Broccoli and brussell sprouts - food for thought!
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy was developed by Dr. Albert Ellis in the 1950's. Educators are beginning to rethink how they address behaviour in schools. Slowly we are appreciating that if students are to learn how to better manage themselves emotionally and behaviourally more successfully then REBT has a lot to offer through RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOUR EDUCATION
Showing posts with label gerbils. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gerbils. Show all posts
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Teachers who bully teachers!
It is my experience that no matter how competent, experienced, or well credentialed an educator might be if your face doesn't fit you ma...
-
An approvalist is one who practices the philosophy of Approvalism. An approvalist lives life for the service of others seemingly without tho...
-
The narcissist has an approval need receptacle somewhere in their subconscious. It leaks like a sieve it seems, and the more its fed by admi...
-
Roger Bent was an aspirational type who worked out early what he wanted and aimed to become what he imagined he could be. He was not particu...