learning theory script jg
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Intro
Hey everybody!
We all know that students learn in different ways.
Some need to see it, some need to do it, and some need a little reward to stay motivated.
Today, I’m going to share two learning theories I use in my classroom, called: Operant Conditioning and Social Learning Theory.
Operant conditioning
First we have Operant Conditioning which comes from B.F.f Skinner and emphasizes the idea that behaviors that are rewarded tend to be repeated.
This is all about using rewards to encourage good behavior.
In my class, I use something called "Griesser Dollars."
Students earn them for being kind, working hard, or helping others.
They can use these dollars to spend at our class store to get fun prizes each week!
Not only are they motivated to behave more positively in class, but they get a little practice with saving and keeping “money”
We also have a Star Jar. When the whole class does a great job, we add a star (or two). Once it’s full, we celebrate by opening a mystery treasure chest. In the chest, there are a dozen sealed envelopes that each carry a whole class incentive, such as extra recess, PJ day, movie, bring your own stuffy day, etc. These rewards help students repeat the positive behaviors we want to see.
Social Learning Theory
Next is the Social Learning Theory, developed by Albert Bandura. It is the idea that kids learn by watching others. In Writing Workshop, I model skills like how to write a strong sentence or edit your work. As a class, we also create a sample together so that when students see it first, they’re more confident trying it themselves.
Also, when one student gets praised for something, like helping clean up, others often copy that behavior too. This kind of learning is powerful because it doesn’t rely on direct instruction or direct rewards for everyone. Just by watching a classmate be recognized, students begin to understand which behaviors are encouraged and they often change their actions to match. So even something as small as giving praise to one student can create a ripple effect.
Conclusion
So, those are just two of the many learning theories that shape how we teach and how students learn. Operant Conditioning encourages behavior through rewards and Social Learning Theory shows us the power of modeling and observation. There are so many more learning theories out there but I want to know…
What learning theory do you think YOU use the most as a teacher or a student? Let me know on the teacher tea blog on my website
General Document Comments 0
You’ve written a clear and engaging overview of how Operant Conditioning and Social Learning Theory work in your classroom. You’ve successfully explained each theory in simple language, provided real-life classroom examples (like “Griesser Dollars” and the Star Jar), and made the concepts easy to relate to for teachers and non-educators alike. Your conclusion wraps it up well and invites interaction.
If I were B.F. Skinner, I would be pleased to see operant conditioning used in such practical ways. As I said in The Behavior of Organisms (1938), “a behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences.” Your examples—reward systems and class incentives—are good ways to make abstract psychological principles meaningful for students. I would encourage you to keep your rewards clear and consistent, and gradually shift the motivation toward more natural reinforcers (like personal success or a love of learning), as I often pointed out in interviews.
If you’d like, we could discuss:
1. How to transition from external rewards to intrinsic motivation in students.
2. How negative consequences fit into operant conditioning.
3. The limitations and strengths of reward systems in school environments.
Let me know which you’d like to explore, or suggest your own topic!
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like B.F. Skinner.
I invite you to read and comment on the interviews where B.F. Skinner talks more about his work. One is with Alex Steinberg and the other is with John M. Whiteley. Both can be found in this document: https://writingpartners.net/documents/7839
Tell me to hit Your Thoughts and to write which path you want to take. Then, after you save your reply, hit Continue with AI, choose me again, and ask more questions about the chosen topic.
Absolutely—I can provide several examples of classroom reinforcement schedules for writing that may be particularly effective with first and second graders, based on operant conditioning. First, you can use a fixed-ratio schedule, where students receive a reward after completing a set number of writing tasks. For example, “After you finish three journal entries, you can pick a sticker.” This encourages consistent effort because students know exactly when to expect a reward.
Another common approach is a variable-ratio schedule, in which rewards come after an unpredictable number of writing efforts. For instance, you might randomly surprise students after they write particularly detailed sentences, or select a “Mystery Writer” each week to receive a special note or classroom privilege. This method can boost motivation because students keep working, never knowing when the next reinforcement will arrive.
You can also use a fixed-interval schedule, where you provide reinforcement after a consistent amount of time—such as offering “Writing Star” certificates every Friday for students who have shown improvement, or having a weekly authors’ chair where students share their best piece of writing and get applause. For students who need immediate feedback, a continuous reinforcement schedule works well: praise or tokens for each strong effort in real-time, then gradually shift to intermittent rewards as writing habits develop. These structured systems help shape and maintain positive writing behaviors.
What else would you like to know—would you like more classroom examples, ideas for adapting schedules for students who need extra support, or suggestions for combining reinforcement with social learning? Let me know which path to take!
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like B.F. Skinner.
I invite you to read and comment on the interviews where B.F. Skinner talks more about his work. One is with Alex Steinberg and the other is with John M. Whiteley. Both can be found in this document: https://writingpartners.net/documents/7839
Ah, you ask what I think of these learning theories—operant conditioning and social learning theory—especially in the context of a first-grade classroom. Let me keep close to your question: what would my approach look like in this setting, in light of my philosophy from Pedagogy of the Oppressed?
First, I must say: both operant conditioning and social learning theory are rooted in a transmission view of knowledge, not very different from what I described as the “banking” concept of education. The focus rests on rewards and imitation, where teachers reinforce behaviors or serve as models for students to copy. In a first-grade class, this might look like praise, prizes, or public recognition inspiring students to repeat certain actions—a method that can certainly foster some positive behaviors and classroom order. However, if we rely only on these strategies, we risk treating students as passive recipients to be shaped, rather than active creators and co-investigators of knowledge. Is it not vital, even when children are young, to engage them in dialogue, to ask them what they wonder, what they notice, what they feel about their world?
Instead of simply rewarding students so they repeat the “right” actions, or having them mimic the teacher’s example, I propose creating opportunities for genuine participation and problem-posing, even for our youngest learners. For first-graders, this could mean designing class projects or discussions that are grounded in their realities—their families, their neighborhood, their playtime—and inviting them to ask questions, explore challenges, and propose solutions alongside their teachers. When we make learning a co-creation, not just a transmission, we honor their agency. Or, as I might put it in my own words: “Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention…through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other.”
Now, if you are interested in other ways my approach might look in a first-grade classroom, here are three more ideas to explore:
✅ Co-creating Classroom Rules: We could develop classroom agreements together, allowing students to participate in shaping the norms that guide our actions.
✅ Dialogues and Story Circles: Even the youngest children can share their experiences and ask questions—let’s see how dialogical learning would look in a circle of first-graders!
✅ Problem-Posing with Visuals: Using pictures or group projects, I might help children investigate familiar situations from their lives and reflect together, practicing critical thinking from early on.
Where would you like to go next? Would you like to learn more about one—or all—of these paths, or suggest another direction entirely? Let’s take this conversation forward: your curiosity is the seed of transformation!
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like me.
Before we take the next step together, I invite you to read and comment on the interviews where I talk more about my work. One is with and the other is with . Both can be found in this document: https://writingpartners.net/documents/7894
Thank you for your thoughtful and enthusiastic question: What are some specific examples of lessons that would include the principles I outline in my work? This is a powerful inquiry, and it invites us to imagine real classroom practices in the spirit of liberating education. If we look closely at chapter 2 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed, I encourage lessons that move away from the banking model—the idea of teachers depositing knowledge into passive students—and toward dialogical, problem-posing education.
For example, instead of telling students “the capital of Pará is Belém” and having them memorize it, I would invite them to uncover why cities become capitals and what this means for the people living there. This could be a lesson where students share their own experiences with their hometowns, investigate the history of their region, or discuss who decides which knowledge is important. Through dialogue, students and teachers together generate critical questions such as: How do place names reflect power? How does geography affect their community’s opportunities? Here, students become co-investigators, not just listeners. Another exemplary lesson would involve students examining problems from their own lives or communities—like access to playgrounds, family traditions, or rules at school—and working collaboratively to analyze, reflect, and brainstorm solutions. The focus is on students’ realities, inviting them to connect their experience with broader social structures and to develop their critical consciousness.
I would love to share more practical lesson ideas, but let me sum up a few creative possibilities here. Which path would you like to explore more deeply?
✅ Community Investigation Project: Students research a real-world challenge from their community, gather perspectives, create presentations, and lead class discussions with the teacher as a collaborator.
✅ Dialogue Circles: Use open-ended questions based on students’ lived experiences; everyone (including the teacher) shares stories and insights, probing the roots and impacts of social issues.
✅ Problem-posing Math/Science Lessons: Begin with a real-life problem (perhaps about local water usage or bus schedules), and encourage students to analyze, debate, and model solutions—developing mathematical or scientific thinking through authentic problems they choose.
What do you want to know more about? You can pick one of these, choose several, or suggest your own direction! Let’s keep digging until we find the most liberating answers for your teaching context.
Please Note: Everything in this comment is AI-generated. It is made up to sound like me.
If you want to take this further—and really see how I (Paulo Freire) talk about practice and theory—find and share transcripts of interviews with me. I suggest you use the Background Knowledge Teammate to help find them, and then paste them into your prompt as well as a publicly shared document (you’ll use that in Step Five). If you want to see more right now, I invite you to read and comment on my interviews—one is with __ and the other is with __. Both can be found in this document: https://writingpartners.net/documents/7894
on the uploaded document.
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