svittos starfish problem behaviors

In order to be In order to be successful, successful,

students need:students need:

Self Regulation Self Regulation Skills Skills

Communicating Communicating and Learningand Learning

SkillsSkills

Making FriendsMaking Friends& &

Getting Along Getting Along With PeersWith Peers

SkillsSkills

ConfidentConfident

FriendlyFriendly

Have Good Peer Have Good Peer RelationshipsRelationships

Tackle ChallengesTackle Challenges

Have Good LanguageHave Good LanguageDevelopmentDevelopment

Communicate WellCommunicate Well

Listen to InstructionsListen to Instructions

Are AttentiveAre Attentive

Successful Students are:

Why then do they do what they do?Why then do they do what they do?

What do students do when they can’t What do students do when they can’t concentrate on a challenging task concentrate on a challenging task and are faced with something too and are faced with something too

hard for themhard for them?

What do students do when they What do students do when they can’t get along with others and can’t get along with others and

they can’t resolve conflict they can’t resolve conflict constructively?constructively?

Any repeated pattern of behavior that interferes with learning or positive interactions with peers and adults.

Challenging behavior is defined on the basis of its effects.

What is Challengin

g Behavior?

May be used to communicate a messageMay be used to communicate a message

May be used instead of words by a someone who has limited social skills

or has learned that challenging behavior will meet his needs

Students engage in challenging behavior because “it works” for

them

Many students engage in challenging behaviors in the course of their

development

Many students who engage in chronic, Many students who engage in chronic, highly challenging behaviors proceed highly challenging behaviors proceed through a predictable course of ever-through a predictable course of ever-

escalating challenging behaviorsescalating challenging behaviors

An estimated 9 to 13% of American An estimated 9 to 13% of American children between ages nine to 17 have children between ages nine to 17 have serious diagnosable emotional or serious diagnosable emotional or behavioral health disorders behavioral health disorders

(Friedman, 2002) (Friedman, 2002)

Students with Severe Emotional Disorders miss more days of school than do students in all other disability categories (U.S. Department of Education, 1994)

More than half of More than half of students with SED students with SED drop out of grades 9-drop out of grades 9-12, the highest rate 12, the highest rate for all disability for all disability categories.categories. (U.S. Department of Education, 2002(U.S. Department of Education, 2002

Of those students Of those students with SED who drop with SED who drop out of school, 73% out of school, 73% are arrested within are arrested within five years of five years of

leaving school.leaving school. (U.S. Department of Education, 1994)(U.S. Department of Education, 1994)

The correlation between preschool-age The correlation between preschool-age aggression and aggression at age 10 is aggression and aggression at age 10 is higher than that for IQ.higher than that for IQ. (Kazdin, 1995)(Kazdin, 1995)

Early appearing aggressive behaviors are the Early appearing aggressive behaviors are the best predictor of juvenile gang membership best predictor of juvenile gang membership

and violence.and violence. (Reid, 1993)(Reid, 1993)

Of the young children who show early signs of problem Of the young children who show early signs of problem behavior, it has been estimated that fewer than 10% behavior, it has been estimated that fewer than 10%

receive services for these difficulties. receive services for these difficulties. (Kazdin & Kendall, 1998) (Kazdin & Kendall, 1998)

We can help kids:• Environmental Design

• Effective Positive Behavioral Interventions

• Curricular Modification and Accommodation Strategies

• Consultation and Technical Assistance

Challenging behavior can often be Challenging behavior can often be eliminated or substantially reduced by a eliminated or substantially reduced by a

change in adult behavior. change in adult behavior.

Individuals, parents, professionals, and Individuals, parents, professionals, and others who come into contact with young others who come into contact with young

children often have strong emotions, children often have strong emotions, expectations, and beliefs about certain expectations, and beliefs about certain

behaviors.behaviors.

Parents and professionals need each other when it comes to a student with

challenging behavior. We need to be partners.

- Rene Decartes- Rene Decartes

Any Behavior That Persists Any Behavior That Persists

Is “Working” for the Individual InvolvedIs “Working” for the Individual Involved

The Single Event Is of Little Consequence- The Single Event Is of Little Consequence- It’s The Pattern That Counts It’s The Pattern That Counts

We Tend To Conclude That The IndividualWe Tend To Conclude That The IndividualEither Either Can’tCan’t or or Won’tWon’t Do Otherwise Do Otherwise

We all have a strong need to be in control,

It is how we meet that need that sets us apart.

It is possible to win a battle and lose the war…

There are many children who begin their lives in poverty and without a secure

attachment

Everyone needs love, especially when we might feel they don’t

deserve it

Children are only as good as the environments we create

for them

All kids need:

Predictability,

Consistency

and

Positive Interactions

When a student struggles academically, we look for

instructional solutions

We have to look for

solutions when a student

struggles behaviorally

If our American way of life fails the child,it fails us all

Pearl S. Buck

The true teacher

defends his pupils

against his own

personal bias

Amos Bronson Alcott

How you look at a person

determines what you will see

We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them Albert Einstein

All children need at least one person to believe in

them

Peace cannot be kept by

force, it can only be created

by understanding

Albert Einstein

“We need to start

fighting crime in the high chair,not the electric chair.”

 George Sweat, Former Chief of Police

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

The greatest challenge to a thinker is stating a problem in a way that will allow a

solution Betrand Russell

Our Children are the Living Message We

Send to a Time We Will

Not See

Neil Postman

“Be the change you wish to see in the

world.”Mahatma Gandhi

• The major ingredients are within your immediate possession.

• The change can occur within a reasonable period of time.

So let’s begin…