Fair is Not Always Equal
“Fair is not everyone getting the same thing. Fair is everyone getting what they need to be successful.” -Rick Riordan
Every student needs something slightly different from us in order to reach their academic potential. One student may need extra time on a test, another student may need to take calming breaks throughout the day, and yet another may require extension activities in order to be challenged. Differentiation is necessary for our students to be successful, and accommodating their differing needs and levels is a critical piece of differentiation. So isn’t it strange that we aren’t as comfortable applying that same logic to behavior? Why is it that we feel pressure to respond to unexpected behaviors in the exact same way for each and every student?
Response varies depending on the circumstance and the individual
Fair is not always equal. This is true for both academics and behavior. There are multiple things to consider when determining how to respond to unexpected behaviors. As Connected Communicators, we are careful to hold all students to high standards and expectations, however, our response varies depending on the circumstance and the individual. It’s important for us to remember that all behavior is communication. When responding to unexpected behaviors, we need to consider what the student was trying to communicate, and what purpose it served.
Avenue to maximizing the students' learning
At times, this can be difficult for other educators to understand. If educators have an expectation that all students will receive the exact same consequence for the same behavior, regardless of the circumstances, then there is bound to be frustration. We find that it’s helpful to clearly articulate to our colleagues that unexpected behaviors will be addressed individually. To be clear- we are not throwing out the behavior matrix! We are using it as a flexible tool that gives us some guardrails on how to respond. In order to maintain trust with other educators in your building, we need to be sure to close the loop with the staff who reported the behavior. Remember to share both how you responded and why. You can help build the Connected Communicator movement by explaining that by holding students accountable, while keeping in mind their individual needs, you are maximizing the students' learning.
How to respond to caregivers
A similar conversation is often needed with parents or caregivers, especially when they are trying to establish how a consequence for their child lines up with consequences for another. We all know how tricky it is to partner with a caregiver when they feel their student was wronged in some way and they want to make sure the other student’s consequence was “severe” enough. Of course, we can’t share exactly what we did, but we can let them know that we took the situation seriously, and each students’ behavior was addressed in order for the behavior not to be repeated. Sometimes, it’s helpful to share that we cannot disclose the details of another student’s consequences, in the same way we would not discuss their child’s confidential information with others.
Differentiation for academics as well as social, emotional, and behavioral development
We know that we have to differentiate for our students to meet their academic needs. The same is true for supporting their social, emotional, and behavioral development. Helping the whole school system remember that fair is not equal will allow us to give each student what they need to grow and develop into the amazing humans we know they are.
