Ding-a-Lings and Vigilance to Reduce Put Downs

In chapter 13 of Kylene Beers’ book “When Kids Can’t Read,” Beers discuses the problem of unconfident students avoiding participation in class discussions. This can be a particular problem for struggling readers, whose inability has most likely created a lack of confidence. Beers explains, “If reading problems continue to grow throughout the elementary school years, students reach a point where the effort they must exert to find even minimal success with reading is not worth the embarrassment they face in process.” (259-260). In short, for struggling readers participating in class discussion is a lot of risk for little gain. It is the teacher’s job to create an environment that lowers that risk.

Beers believes that one way to lower that risk is to ban negative or judgmental comments between peers. And while that seems like an ideal solution, how are teachers supposed to actually accomplish that?

Beers offers one strategy to minimize peer to peer put downs that I found particularly interesting. She tells an anecdote of a teacher who rang a bell every time someone acted like a “ding-a-ling” by insulting another student’s work (266-267). Students earned rewards if the could go a full class period, week, or month without hearing that bell ring (267). I was skeptical when I first read this strategy. It seems a bit gimmicky, and perhaps more appropriate for an elementary school classroom.

However, in Beers’ example, the ding-a-ling strategy worked (277). It didn’t work because students wanted the prizes or gave into to the gimmick, but rather, it worked because “the bell was … annoying.” (277). The teacher was vigilant and never missed an opportunity to ring that bell. “Every time, every single time, there was a hint of ding-a-ling behavior, she rang the bell.” (277). So it wasn’t the gimmick that got kids to stop being negative, it was the fact that the gimmick was unwavering. The students learned they were not going to get away with put downs of any sort because the teacher was always watching and always reacting.

Beers explains that whatever strategy you take to avoid put downs, “the most important thing you can do is be vigilant.” So, I would conclude that the ding-a-ling strategy alone does not reduce put downs. There must also be determination on the part of the teacher. The ding-a-ling strategy combined with vigilance will reduce put downs.