April 2002"I knew the minute he walked in the
door that it was going to be a bad day, or "You could tell the minute
she got off the bus” These remarks, usually describing chronically
disruptive students, can be heard on a daily basis in schools throughout
the community. My first question when I hear these remarks is to say,
"What did you do as soon as you noticed the student was agitated?" Most
often the answer is "Well, nothing. I knew it was a just a matter of
time before he would have to be sent to the principal's office."
The time to address negative behavior that you know is
going to happen is BEFORE it happens. Many children arrive at school
already aggravated or distressed about something. Sometimes it is
something that went on at home that morning or the night before or, all
too frequently, it is something that happened on the bus that is
affecting the student. Take a minute immediately upon observing the
signs of agitation to speak to the student in a positive (even
nurturing) tone and direct the student to an activity that will provide
a little bit of emotional ventilation or comfort. For example: "It looks
to me like you are feeling agitated this morning. Are you okay?" Chances
are the reply will be "yes". Then direct them to a transition activity,
which will help calm them or give them time to prepare themselves for
the day's work. These activities can be short and simple but they can
make all the difference in the number and severity of the behavior
difficulties that will manifest itself throughout the day. Here are some
suggestions for transition exercises. They can be tailored to the
specific age and capability of the student:
- Give the student a few minutes to draw, write a
private note or make a journal entry. Let them put what they wrote or
drew in a box or basket that they can retrieve later. Tell them the
box is where they can put things that are really bothering them and
leave them for a few hours. "You can always come back for it later."
- Let them sit in an alternative place--preferably
away from the group.
- Let them walk down the hall and back. Physical
activity is THE BEST strategy for alleviating agitation.
- Let them talk to the counselor or another adult for
a couple minutes just to debrief the agitation.
- BE CREATIVE, KIND, NON-PUNITIVE AND PROACTIVE!
There is always time to go to serious consequences if these strategies
fail.
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