Chapter 6

1. Chapter 6 Students With Behavior Needs

2. Learning Objectives • Understand the General Principles of Crisis Intervention • Be able to find solutions for dealing with severe and chronic misbehavior .

3. Learning Content • General Principles of Crisis Intervention • Individual Work and Behavior Contracts • Challenging Scenarios

4. General Principles of CrisisIntervention

5. Early Intervention • Communication • Body Language

6. Proximity and Body Language • Eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, physical proximity to students, and the way you carry yourself will communicate that you are in calm control of the class and mean to be taken seriously. • Be free to roam • Avoid turning back to class

7. Cooperation through communication • Verbalize descriptions of behaviors and never value judgments about individuals • Verbalize feelings but remain in control • DO NOT USE SARCASM • Do not place labels (good or bad) • Do not get students hooked on praise • Praise the work and behavior – not the students themselves • Speak only to people when they are ready to listen

8. Individual work and Behavior Contracts

9. Individual Work and BehaviorContracts • When a student often displays behavioral or work-habit problems, one effective strategy is to set up a daily contract with that student in order to alter behavior. • The contract should include clear definitions of the expected behavior, positive consequences for choosing to display it, negative consequences for not meeting the expected behavior, how any adults involved will offer support, and a plan for maintaining the desired behavior

10. the teacher should collaborate with the student to discuss the conditions of the daily contract. • Parental involvement, with signatures and phone calls, is vital.

11. Behavior Contracting The focus of an effective contract is to increase appropriate behavior, reduction of problem behavior becomes a by product of the process. The best way to build appropriate behavior is through acknowledging appropriate behavior…therefore emphasis in an effective contract is placed on: * Clearly defining expectations * Establishing reinforcement procedures * Fading the contract over time based on progress.

12. Sample Daily Contract • Student’s Name: __________________________________________________________ • Class: ____________________________________________________________________ • Date: ____________________________________________________________________ • Yes No Notes • Redirections during • the day • Turned in all • homework • Finished all • classwork • Successful day at • recess • When _____________________ earns _______ positive contracts, this will happen: • _________________________________________________________________________ • When _____________________ earns _______ negative contracts this will happen: • _________________________________________________________________________ • Teacher’s Signature: __________________________________________ • Parent’s Signature: __________________________________________ • Student’s Signature: __________________________________________

13. Challenging Scenarios

14. Scenario 1 • You have a student who constantly interrupts the lesson by speaking out, making noises, or bothering someone around him/her. What would you try?

15. Suggested Solutions • Explain that you respond to those who behave correctly and then stick to it. • After that, totally ignore students who want your attention but don’t want to follow your rules. • Divide the class into groups and give points and rewards to each group for good behavior. • Post your consequences for not following the rules. • Move closer to this student. • Carry around a clipboard and look as if you are writing down the student’s name when he/she is acting out. • What else could you try?

16. Scenario 2: • You have a student who never finishes work on time and you know he/she understands how to do it. You are frustrated. What would you try?

17. Suggested Solutions • Try giving a time limit to do a short portion of the assignment. • Give a reward for work finished on time. • Sometimes the child wants control, so try to get buy-in by asking how much he/she thinks can be done in a certain period of time. • Challenge the student by making it a contest. • Seek help from other teachers who may know this student. • What else could you try?

18. Scenario 3: • This student simply won’t follow directions. Either he/she is not paying attention or did not hear the directions correctly, but you know you will have to repeat every direction just for this student. What would you would try?

19. Suggested Solutions • Make sure the students know exactly what you expect. • Ask all students to repeat directions to a partner, one at a time. • Stand near this student when giving directions. • Check to see if he/she understands the assignment before getting to work. • Assign a peer buddy whom the student can ask instead of always coming to you. • What else could you try?

20. Scenario 4: • The students in your class just seem to refuse to be quiet, to pay attention, or be cooperative. You haven’t had this problem before and aren’t quite sure why it’s happening now. What would you try ?

21. Suggested Solutions • Explain again exactly what your standards are. • Move around the room. You own the portion of the room that you possess. • Call attention to students who are working effectively. • When dealing with a problem, do it quietly and privately. • Develop and practice a signal for getting students’ attention. • What else could you try?

22. Scenario 5: • Transitions between activities in your class take about three minutes. You have been told that that is entirely too long but you haven’t been able to improve. What solutions would you try?

23. Suggested Solutions • Tell the students what you expect them to do and how long you want it to take. • Time the transitions or ask different students to time the transitions each day. • Make it a game where students compete with one another. • Rehearse transitions. • Prepare yourself for transitions as much as possible by having everything ready. • What else could you try?

24. Scenario 6: • When you start talking, the class doesn’t recognize that you want their attention. They just don’t clue into the sound of your voice or recognize that it means something special. What would try ?

25. Suggested Solutions • Speak in a low tone so that if you do raise your voice the contrast will be noticed right away. • Create a signal that will alert students that you want their attention, such as clapping three times, turning the lights off and on, ringing a bell, putting your thumbs up where students mimic you, or counting from five to one. • Stand and wait. • What else could you try?

26. Scenario 7: • One or several of your students use profanity and put-downs. This is hurting the morale of the entire class. What would you try.

27. Suggested Solutions • Explain your rules to the class immediately. • If necessary, allow the class to practice using these three phrases: “I don’t like it when you. . .”; “It makes me feel. . .”; and “Next time I want you to. . .” • Speak privately to the student and explain the consequences of doing this again. • Ask the student if he/she knows what the swear words mean (be prepared in case he/she does). • What else could you try?

28. Scenario 8: • Fights, threats, weapons, and drugs are becoming more prevalent on school campuses everywhere. Even though we understand that these problems exist, most teachers don’t expect to encounter them and are often unprepared when or if it happens. What would you try?

29. Suggested Solutions • If you come upon a fight, send for help from either another teacher or an administrator. • If you can determine who the victimized student is, tell him/her to go to the office. • If weapons of any kind are found, refer the child to the administrator. • Prepare ahead of time to find out what constitutes a weapon. • What else could you try?

30. Scenario 9: • Sexual harassment comes in many forms. Sometimes it is only an off-hand remark from a young student that is inappropriate. In the most extreme cases, it becomes sexual assault. What would you try?