I am looking for suggestions on how to handle one of my E.D. resource students. He comes to my resource room for 2 periods a day and it is a constant struggle to keep him settled down. He has a very explosive temper that can flare up with the least confrontation. He stays upset with either other teachers or students. He is known for having these flare ups and seems to be proud of the fact that everyone is aware of his problem. He is a very capable students academically but has a real problem with his emotions.
I am looking for any suggestions that may help keeping him in his seat and quiet. He is becoming a big distraction to the rest of the students in my room.
I have tried talking with him about his behavior 1 on 1 and he assures me he will improve but it only lasts for maybe one period , If I am lucky.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
And don't forget "Dr. Mac's Amazing Behavior Website...
http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/pub/eres/EDSPC715_MCINTYRE/715HomePage.html
Amazing...
I’ve hunted cyberspace without a pass for a long time and never found this page. Good find!
The Explosive Child
Try the book “The Explosive Child” by Ross W. Greene. This book describes the “explosive child” and helps explain why they often behave they way they do. Many of these children have weak or slow developing flexibility and frustration tolerance. This book gives a new perspective to understanding these children. It also contains many strategies to help manage them.
Re: help with a behavior problem
In dealing with teenagers(I’m an ED self-contained teacher), I set up behavior
management programs where the rewards and consequences are swift and
consistent. I have a timer in my classroom that goes off in 15-minute intervals.
For these 15 minutes, I have general behavioral expectations that are listed on
a posterboard……I try to limit it to things that really prevent the teaching/learning process from happening(distractions, talking out of turn)
Every 15 minutes without violating a rule, the student gets a ticket. These tickets
can be turned in at the end of the day for “stuff”, or at the end of the week.(That’s what I do) Now, if a rule is violated during this 15 minute segment, there is no ticket given. In addition, you can perhaps set up a time at the end of
the day for some free play(or “down time” if it is a h.s. student) that is earned
in addition to the tickets. Every violation can earn some minutes off this “down
time” at the end of the day.
This is a modified version of the system I use. It is effective for me because the
students immediately receive rewards/consequences, and it provides a sense
of structure.
Speaking of structure, it helps to have a consistent routine to each class for this
student. For example, in my literature class, we start every day with a “Word of
the Day” which must be copied, then vocabulary work, then the comprehension lesson. This pattern is followed everyday, and the students love
it because they know what to expect. Even though the individual lessons are
different, the *type* of lesson is the same.
Hope this wasn’t too wordy and was of some help!
Re: help with a behavior problem
I use “The Tough Kid Book” and workbook for students with behavior difficulties. It is written by Ginger Rhode, Ph.D. , William R. Jenson, Ph.D. , and H. Kenton Reavis, Ed. D.
Good luck!!!!!
Is there a school counselor or psychologist who can work with you and this student on a behavior plan? Look for the exceptions to the problem— where and when can he stay in control? This will give you clues as to what might work in your classroom. Ask him what he thinks would help. Can you “catch” him before he explodes and let him leave on an errand? Can he sit in a different area or work on a different activity? What does his IEP say about behavior?