As an educator, I have gravitated towards students who do not “fit” the traditional mold for what is expected in school.  These students typically have what some educators consider behavior problems or are often labeled “bad kids.”  They have developed a distaste for school and the parent(s) are frustrated, overwhelmed, and do not know who to trust or where to turn.  

These students may not always be easy to work with, but are entitled to an education nonetheless.  When attempting to support such students, it is vital to understand the function of the behavior and how to develop an alternative to the desired outcome.  Inevitably, certain educators would tell me, “there is no function, the student just loses it.”  Others are guaranteed to say that they have tried everything, that s/he just won’t make the effort and is a disruption.  What is clear is these teachers have tried everything within their own “toolbox” but there are other approaches we can attempt.  There is always a function!  

When we are trying to help students it is important to remember some require more support than others and that is ok!  Our role as educators is to teach the students we have and not the ones we wished we had.  Be bold and ask for help.  

A few years ago, I had my Special Education team do a book study.  This was met with eye-rolling and seen as another task added to their already busy life.  The plan was to design the book study similar to what I would do as a teacher.  The team was presented with manageable steps to complete the chapters and offered differentiated ways for each step.  Chapters were broken into sections and I provided them with a copy of the book. As an alternative, they could listen to an audio version.

We met periodically to discuss and they were provided with no more than three questions in advance so they could be well prepared.  Then the most amazing thing happened!  My staff began coming to me on their own to discuss the book.  They wanted help putting some of the practices in place.  My biggest takeaway was when an experienced teacher came to me and asked, “Why aren’t all teachers doing this?”  

That book was Lost at School, by Dr. Ross Greene. Dr. Greene has published numerous books and his fundamental approach to education is to “understand why a kid is challenging is the first and most important part of helping them.”(https://bit.ly/3lwBvbu) With that said, when a student struggles with math or reading, we offer interventions and other strategies.  However, when a student struggles with behaviors, we punish and exclude.  We instead need to seek understanding and shift toward teaching the appropriate way to behave.  We need to be better!

#standreadytosupport