Tag: Behavior management in special education classrooms

Chaos to Calm: Mastering Behavior Management in Special Education Classrooms,

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Are you a Special Education teacher who feels like your classroom is constantly in chaos? Do you struggle to manage behavior and create a calm learning environment for your students? If so, you’re not alone! Behavior management is a never ending challenge for special education teachers, but there are strategies and practical tips that can help you transform chaos into calm.

Throughout this post, I’ll help you with practical strategies and steps for you to start implementing them in your class today. From creating a structured and supportive environment to implementing effective interventions, I will guide you through the process of helping you master behavior management.

Creating a Structured and Supportive Environment

. Set time to build a structured environment by establishing clear expectations and routines. . . Provide your students with a sense of structure and predictability by clearly communicating the rules and procedures to your students you provide them with a sense of structure and predictability. This helps to minimize confusion and allows students to focus on their learning. . Consider creating visual supports, such as posters or charts, to display these expectations and refer to them regularly.

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. To further promote structure and support, consider implementing classroom organization strategies. Ensure that your classroom is arranged in a way that allows for easy movement and minimizes distractions. . Provide designated spaces for different activities, such as quiet reading areas or group workstations with centre signs. This helps students understand where and how they should engage in different tasks, promoting a more focused and productive learning environment.

. Additionally, incorporating visual supports can be highly beneficial in creating a structured and supportive classroom. Visual aids, such as schedules, rules, and task boards, can assist students in understanding expectations and managing their time effectively. Furthermore, visual prompts can be particularly helpful for students with communication difficulties or those who struggle with transitions.

. Another valuable intervention is the implementation of social skills training. Many students in special education classrooms struggle with social interactions, making it difficult for them to navigate social situations and establish positive relationships with their peers. . By incorporating social skills training into the curriculum, students can learn important skills such as active listening, turn-taking, and conflict resolution. . Role-playing exercises and real-life scenarios can also help students practice applying these skills in a safe and supportive environment.

By implementing these effective interventions, Teachers can enhance behavior management in special education classrooms. These interventions address the specific needs of students, providing them with the support, strategies, and tools necessary to help them succeed academically and socially. When students are equipped with the skills and resources they need, they are more empowered to make positive choices and engage in behaviors that promote a calm and productive learning environment.

How to use First and Then Visuals

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Children with SPED can sometimes find a classroom a bit confusing and can quickly become distressed with all the changes that are taking place around the room. My job is to help keep them calm and cope with what is happening. Sometimes I use visual supports to prepare and explain what is happening next.

I have found the “First and Then” Strategy a visual way of understanding what is expected throughout the day and a simple start to scheduling. As part of my structured teaching environment I use this simple timetable with individual work and in class activities.

Before starting a task and after a motivator assessment my young learners are offered a selection of visual reinforcers to choose from, this icon is placed in the “Then” side of the board.

And I place the icon of the task to be completed on the “First” side of the board. While teaching this strategy for the first few times I use quick errorless tasks and partially prompt my student if they become distressed.

Once established, my student will learn to follow the first activity independently and transfer to the next activity shown.

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My Daily Planner Binder – Back to School for Kids with Autism

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On the first day back to school I always introduce my Interactive Planner Binder to keep my young learners focused and motivated! Its full of visual strategies to help them plan their day, choose they’re reinforcer and stay in the area where they need to work.

I laminated the ones i made but you could easily place them in a pocket folder and use a dry wipe marker.

I’ve incorporated pages for my new students to jot down their name, grade and class, followed by their teachers name, their friends name, things they like and things they don’t.

There are pages with the days of the week for them to practice and tick off what day it is and same for seasons.

Having a schedule is so important so I’ve added spaces where i can write the order of the day and they can tick off as they go though it, handy to keep them on track!

Working for cards and reward choice keep them motivated!

Reminders of what to do when they feel angry, “first and then” when they get frustrated and what “I need” visuals for them to choose from.

Self-Regulation strategies for Managing Behavior

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Being able to regulate behavior is an essential critical skill to learn, so I’ve designed booklets for my students with Autism, Special Ed and the Preschool students in my school. This visual tool is intended to help them identify how they feel and what they would need to be ready for work! They turned out to be a great asset in my classroom calm down area.

Each of my kiddos are constantly using the visuals to remind themselves on how to get in the “ready” for work area. They can choose the supports they need and attach them on the page if they find themselves wandering out!
There are some books with three area tabs and some with four areas identified and each have visual supports for students to check how they feel, what area they are in and what they would need to do to get back area ready to work.

I’ve also added a “Tool Book” to this collection, which my kiddos equally love using!

Using Powerful Reinforcers!

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How I use Fidget Toys as reinforcers in my Classroom

Sensory

Help your students focus and keep calm while keeping little hands busy. When collecting fidget toys make sure they’re robust enough to withstand the strains they’ll be under. I buy toys that are strong enough for my students to bite, squeeze or stretch safely but still benefit their sensory needs.

Learning to Wait

When my student is learning to wait and has been given a “wait” card, having something to occupy his hands will sometimes help. Using my “wait” box that is filled with fidget toys, can be offered during this time to allowing me to gradually increase the “wait” time.

As a motivator

Teachers need to be clear on how to deliver a motivator for effective learning. When, where and how many reinforcers will determine how long the learning lasts and how rapidly they learn.

When I’m teaching something new the more frequently I reinforce. When presenting a new task or skill I arrange things so that every successful effort results in a powerful reinforcer.

I find the “Reward Board” works best! and I deliver it in a variety of ways, which I tailor with students individual interests.

Token boards – A token is used like an IOU and once collected can be exchanged for the actual reinforcer. Students can start off collecting 1 token before gaining their reinforcer and build up to 10 tokens once the concept is mastered and they’re ready to learn longer.

Reinforcer icons are placed along the bottom of the card, students choose one before the task begins and tokens are distributed throughout the task!

First and Then strategies and Reward Board choices are also a great tool. I sometimes use it along side this reward system!