Challenging Behavior
&
Appropriate Responses
Negative Attitude
Descriptions
Disrespectful hitting and aggressive behavior
Solutions
Descriptions
Frequently lose his or her temper and blow-up
Have no regard for rules, discipline, or authority
Hurt or interact roughly with others
Skinner’s Operant Conditioning
Extremely impulsive
Being mean to peers
Send positive note home
Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory
Teach conflict resolution skills
Have a conversation with the student
Off task or Disruptive
Descriptions
Student doesn't understand the task.
Out of their chair, roaming the classroom.
Solutions
Take away unstructured play time or free time
Talking to their classmates instead of working on the task at hand.
Praise when cooperative and well behaved
Skinner’s Operant Conditioning
Have students repeat classroom rules
Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory
Ignoring the student who is not in their seat, giving attention to him or her when they sit-down positive reinforcing the desired behavior.
Use simpler language to explain the task, re-read the task to the student.
Solutions
Make self defeating comments
Break the task into steps, and give them praise for each step they complete.
Argue or talk back to teachers
Give rewards to students who are on task, such as adding stars to their names on the board, or giving praise.
Be dismissive
Throw tantrum frequently
Skinner’s Operant Conditioning
Watson’ Theory
Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory
Use a computer based programs to assist the student, with the task.
Teach substitute words
Pair students with more knowledgeable peers.
Start commands
Create a positive environment to engage students
Avoid power struggles
Acknowledge positive behavior
Disrespectful
Descriptions
Solutions
Not following directions when given
Frequent talking back to teachers
Poor attitude
Always feel they are right
Huff and puff and roll eyes at others
Skinner’s Operant Conditioning
Negative punishment: removing them from an activity and having sit in a thinking chair for reflection time
Positive reinforcement: praise when good attitude and involvement occur; using a behavior chart; make eye contact with students when positive attitude occurs
Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory
Repeat directions and rules, let the students repeat the directions after you
Modeling: story telling, post good behavior examples on the board,encourage good behaviors in front of the whole class
Inappropriate language
Descriptions
Solutions
Use inappropriate words or phrase
Blame others
Many reports from other students
Lev Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory
Model appropriate language.
Teach social skills, relationship skills by story-telling, role play, etc.
Provide a variety of group work or teamwork activities to help students build good relationships with each other.
Minimize the successes of others
Teach the students what respectful behavior is.
Call parents to explain the negative behaviors