How does a teacher handle a student with behavior problems?

Question

Some Indiana teachers seem to me that they are not qualified to understand that a child with behavior problems could also indicate that, that child may have some kind of mental disorder. I was just wondering if the teachers were trained well enough to evaluate a child with such problem.

Answer 1

How does a teacher handle a student with behavior problems?

Students talking out loud, being out of seat without permission, not paying attention to lessons, and causing a disruption in class are too common occurrences in classrooms today.

Whether a teacher has general education or special education certification, the correct handling of behavior problems is vital to student and teacher success. There are many excellent books and websites on the subject, including the link below, from which this summary was taken (Mather, N., & Goldstein, S. (2001). Learning Disabilities and Challenging Behaviors: A Guide to Intervention and Classroom Management. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. pp. 96-117). http://www.ldonline.org/article/6030

Mather and Sam Goldstein indicate four basic steps to correcting student behavior problems:
•The problem must be defined, usually by count or description.
•Design a way to change the behavior.
•Identify an effective reinforcer.
•Apply the reinforcer consistently to shape or change behavior.

G.G. Bear suggest five models that help prevent bad behavior in the first place: Preventative classroom management, which involves effective teaching practices, frequent monitoring, clear rules and procedures, social praise, and so forth. Prosocial behavior methods, which involves systematic reinforcement, modeling of prosocial behavior, verbal instruction, and role playing. Moral education, which involves classroom moral discussions of real-life dilemmas, hypothetical situations, and literature; role playing; student participation in school government. Social problem solving (SPS), which involves direct teaching of SPS skills (e.g. alternative thinking, means-ends thinking), self- instruction training, and dialoguing. Effective communication models, involves values clarification activities, active listening, communication and interpersonal skills training for students and teachers. (Bear, G.G. (1990). Modeks and techniques that focus on prevention. In A. Thomas & J. Grimes (Eds.), Best practices in school psychology (p. 652). Silver Spring, MID: National Association of School Psychologists; Copyright 1990 by the National Association of School Psychologists)

Bear also suggests three techniques to deal with existing behaviors: behavior modification (direct instruction; reinforcement techniques, including social praise, material reinforcers and tokens, punishment-oriented techniques, verbal reprimand, response cost, and time-out, group contingency techniques, and behavioral contracting), assertive discipline (teacher assertion, systematic use of behavior modification techniques, continuous monitoring) and reality therapy (confrontation questioning, classroom meetings, classroom moral discussions, social problem solving, behavioral contracting, logical consequences, time-out, preventative techniques such as democratic governance).

There are also five treatment techniques suggested by Bear: social skills training (direct instruction, modeling and rehearsal, coaching, self-instruction, manipulation of antecedents and consequences), aggression replacement training (social skills training techniques, self- instruction, moral discussions), parent management training (parent training in application of behavioral techniques), family therapy, and cognitive, behavioral, and operant techniques.

Similarly, Shea and Bauer suggest seven ways to apply positive reinforment to change behavior:
•Select a target behavior to increase, define the behavior, and choose a reinforcer.
•Observe the child and watch for the behavior.
•Reinforce the target behavior every time it is exhibited.
•Comment in a positive way about the behavior when providing reinforcement.
•Be enthusiastic -and interested.
•Offer assistance.
•Vary the reinforcer.

Modifying students’ behaviors requires study, practice, and the consistent application of methods such as these. It can seem to be overwhelming, especially when first learning and using these techniques. However, the control of the classroom and dramatic improvement in the lives of your students makes the effort well worth it.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Regular ed teachers have minimal, if any training, in dealing with emotional disturbances. Newer regular ed teachers have had an Introduction to Special Education class, and MAYBE one other special ed class (usually an introduction to methods). Those are general courses, not focused on specific issues (there are 13 categories of need in special education).

Special Education teachers have had more training specific to emotional disturbances ... non-specialists in the area will have had a couple of courses. Specialists in E/BD will have had thorough training, from an instructional perspective.

E/BD special education teachers work closely with the school psychologists, who have the full training in the actual remediation of the child's issues.

Teachers do NOT evaluate a student for emotional disturbances, they only screen for it. The only questions they need to answer for a referral are "Is this child's mood and/or behaviors interferring with his/her learning, or the learning of others?" and "Has this been going over several months?"

If the answer to both is "yes," the teacher should be starting the process to bring the child to services, beginning with the Child Study Team (or whatever their district calls it), a regular ed team of teachers meeting with the parent, probably the counselor since it is behavioral issues, and possibly other specialists in the building, to try to build some in-class interventions first before making any special ed referral.

Yes, a parent CAN request that the school start this process. If the school refuses, they must give a full written explanation of why (NOT a verbal turn-down). That document might be used by the parent to sue the schools if the child is identified as special needs later.... so most schools will do the study team if you ask for "Prior Written Notice" when they first say "no." If they are willing to give written refusal, then they are certain the child is not having a problem with learning or peer interaction in the classroom.

To receive services through the school, a diagnosis is not enough. The diagnosed condition must impact the child's learning, or access to learning (social interactions, environmental navigation). This means the child's learning COMPARED TO HIM/HERSELF. For example, a child with a high IQ earning A's and B's may still be underachieving.

Regular ed teachers need LOTS more training in these issues than what they are getting.

Answer 4

If you are talking about elementary and secondary level teachers, generally not. You are not required to take any courses on child development to be a teacher of kindergarten on up. However, if you are dealing with preschool age, chances are a little better that your teachers are having behaviorial trainings. At least, in CA where I live, preschool teachers have to have had at least 2-4 classes in child development topics in order to teach. Hopefully, they will have learned something about dealing with difficult behaviors. Unfortunately, most teachers are not qualified to evaluate a child.

Answer 5

Usually the school has a diagnostician or a child psychologist to evaluate the child for learning disabilities and the like. Teachers can refer the child for testing, but it's really beyond their responsibilities to diagnose, and anyway haven't you noticed that teachers today have their hands full? Where are the child's parents?

Answer 6

There has been an increased push lately to place students in need of special services in with the general population. The special ed. teachers have the training. The general ed. teachers might not.
If you can, make sure the child gets the services he/she deserves!

Answer 7

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