Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) can be challenging! Unfortunately, many of these students earn a bad reputation before they leave elementary school! How does this happen? Why does it continue to happen?
I believe it is in how we respond to these students! All too often I hear educators indicate "it's choice" or "they are doing it for attention." Really? Billy, Sam, and Sarah woke up today thinking, "how can I make my teacher's life difficult today?" News flash, they didn't!
More and more research is being shared about how we need to respond to students with EBD. Traditionally, we respond by punishment, yelling, or administration of consequences. Ask yourself this question: has punishment, yelling, or consequences changed Billy's, Sam's, or Sarah's behavior? My guess, your answer is no.
So what can we do? This summer I had the opportunity to read two books explaining a new perspective on working with challenging kids. First, Lost at school by Dr. Ross Greene, challenges educators to shift their thinking of challenging students. Dr. Ross Greene's approach is built upon the belief "students do well if they can." So if they can't, why not? Dr. Ross Greene encourages educators to determine the missing skills and collaboratively work with the student to solve the problem!
The second book, Beyond Consequences, by Heather T. Forbes explains the role of trauma and stress in these students' lives. We need to develop a classroom environment where students can feel safe and can have the support they need to work through things we cannot imagine!
These are two philosophies I will be integrating and building upon in the upcoming school year. I will keep you posted on the progress and learning I am sure to acquire as I change my view of students with EBD and the way I collaborate with each student!
For more information on these two books and a link to my classroom website, please access the links below:
Miss Delaney's Classroom
Beyond Consequences
Lost at school
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