Are you looking for ways to support students whose behavior is unpredictable? If so, keep reading.
1. Give praise and recognition of appropriate behavior as often as possible.
2. Teach the student to think before acting (e.g., they should ask themselves, “What is happening?” “What am I doing?” “What should I do?” “What will be best for me?”).
3. Do not provide too much free time for the student.
4. Organize their surroundings so the student does not have time to demonstrate unacceptable behavior.
5. Give the student alternative approaches to testing (e.g., test the student orally, make tests shorter, let the student take the test in the resource room, etc.).
6. Refrain from a discussion of topics sensitive to the student (e.g., divorce, death, unemployment, alcoholism, etc.).
7. Give as many enjoyable and exciting learning activities as possible.
8. Give a consistent routine (schedule) for the student to enable stability.
9. Allow flexibility in meeting academic requirements when the student shows sudden or dramatic mood changes (e.g., allow more time, modify tasks, give help with tasks).
10. Teach the student to recognize sudden or dramatic changes in behavior so they may deal with it appropriately.
11. Notify the student in advance when a change at school is going to happen (e.g., change in routine (schedule), special activities, end of one learning experience and beginning of another, etc.).
12. Provide the student with sufficient time to make adjustments to learning experience changes, new situations, etc., (e.g., give the student several minutes to move from one learning experience to another).
13. Stop the occurrence of specific stimuli that cause the student to demonstrate sudden or dramatic changes in behavior (e.g., demanding situations, interruptions, competition, abrupt changes, etc.).
14. Give the student a selection of tasks and require the student to select a minimum number from the total amount (e.g., present the student with 10 academic tasks from which 6 must be finished that day).
15. Give the student a schedule of daily activities so the student will know what is required of him/her.
16. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
17. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.
