Hi Elizabeth,
The thing to remember with these behaviors is that they are communicating a message. Behaviors also serve a purpose of meeting our basic needs: Survival, Love, Power/control, Freedom, and Fun (Glasser Choice Theory). The thing that needs to happen is the behavior needs to be tracked using ABC Charts, Frequency Charts, and Anectdotal Records. You will be using these forms to answer three questions: (1) Why is this child behaving this way? (2) What skills does the child need to learn? and (3) How do you want to teach? I always coach my teachers to think about Why-what-how!
From the details you have provided in your post, the child could be struggling with managing emotions (throwing shoes) or simply using the behavior to get out of following your guidance. If it's managing emotions, teaching the child appropriate ways to express emotions (in a calm down corner, mood thermometer, and things they can do squeeze ball, take deep breathes, etc.). If it's getting out of doing something they don't want to do (your directions), changing how you phrase things may help. Giving limited choices that leads them to want you want can reduce the resistance as the child feel like they are in "control". Another strategy is to use "First/then" language. "First you clean up, then we go outside". This teaches the child the sequence of things and gets them excited about what's coming next. If they upset because they want to finish playing with something, can they save it for later, bring it outside, etc.
You see a lot of ifs in my response because it all depends on "Why". Knowing this is huge!
I also encourage teachers to identify what basic needs are not being filled and to incorporate strategies to meet this needs into their routines and interactions. Potential needs to explore here are Survival (are they hungry/tired), freedom (do they want to make their own choices) and power (are they seeking out control).
Let me me know if you have any questions. I write about this a lot on my blog if you need any ideas, tools, or resources.
~Tiffany
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Tiffany Smith
Founder/Owner
Teaching Foundations, LLC
Columbia MD
Tiffanyjsmith@teachingfoundationsllc.comHttps://www.teachingfoundationsllc.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 05-15-2019 07:35 AM
From: Elizabeth Willis
Subject: How to handle disruptive student
There is a student that throws boots and staff. She hits the teachers and tries to harm her peers. When she cannot have her way she throws chairs or anything she finds. She is constantly at the office, the parent is constantly called about the behavior. The director at this center said to hold her in your lap or have her by your side at all times. It's hard to attend to the rest of class while those episodes are going on. The owner keeps allowing the child in the classroom. The staff not director head a when policy for this type of behavioural. This is at a center my friends works at. And strategies out ideas to help the toddler our staff?
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Elizabeth Willis
Owner
3 Sistas family homecare
Riverdale GA
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