Better Intervention Methods For SED, BD, Special Ed, and Emotionally Disturbed Children and Teens
Inspirational Apathy-Busters That Inspire Students to Aspire When we train teachers around the country, they often tell us that their university training did not give them much practical, real-world preparation to teach children with emotional challenges.
One area that teachers frequently mention: they are seldom given any useful, ready-to-use training to work with students who are their "own worst enemies.
" This article will help.
First, remember, though that teachers should seek help from counselors and other mental health professionals whenever working with troubled students.
These interventions can be a starting place, but only within the context of being sensitive to any safety concerns that vulnerable students can present.
All teachers must remember to be sure to seek help from their school counselor or social worker before using these ideas with troubled students if there is any possibility of safety issues.
FOR SELF-DESTRUCTIVE STUDENTS It can be tough to inspire students who are "anti-self" but this creative intervention can be a good start.
The quote on the worksheet has been attributed to the late Les Paul.
It says "The same power you have to destroy yourself, you have to save yourself.
" You can use this device verbally; it can quickly start a productive discussion.
You could also enlarge the worksheet into a poster.
Here is a wonderful alternative activity: Ask your students to research the life of Les Paul, who overcome many challenges to reach great heights as a musician and inventor.
INSPIRE HONESTY You are going to love this enjoyable, potent activity that can reduce lying.
While this device works with almost any age group, it won't be useful to use with the 11-14% of your class that may be conduct disordered.
However, this terrific experiential activity can have a lot of impact on the balance of your students.
To conduct this activity, you need lots of big books, or other heavy objects.
Dictionaries work really well.
Before starting, remind students of the requirement for you to report any disclosures that include safety concerns.
To begin the activity, initiate a discussion of lying.
Part way into the discussion, ask for a student to volunteer to help with a demonstration.
Select a student who has already revealed a lot of past lies-- but be sure to pick a youngster who revealed lies that are not serious, consequential, or personal.
Do not select youngsters who reveal lies that are serious, intimate, or personal.
Ask that student to briefly re-state the first lie.
As they speak, hand them the first big book.
Ask the student to say their second lie, and hand them another book.
Continue the process until the student is having great difficulty holding all the books, or until the student drops some books, or the student declines to continue.
Discuss with the class how lies weigh you down until they become impossible to carry.
FOR SAD STUDENTS Students often face struggles that their teachers and counselors can only imagine.
Many students don't disclose the nature of their distress, and that makes it very hard to intervene.
Here is a powerful intervention that can help you better understand what your students face.
If you have non-writers, you can do the writing portion of this activity as each youngster dictates to you.
Ask students to capture their year as if they were writing aTwitter tweet, which is just 140 characters.
Reducing a year to 140 characters may reveal information that could be more readily hidden in conversation.
Once you know more about the child's world view, you will have a better idea how to reach and inspire them.
You can adapt this idea to Facebook by asking students to give a several sentence long status update summarizing their year.
You may permit some students to use graphics or music instead of just words.
Before using this intervention, be sure to remind students that if they reveal abusive situations, that you are required to take protective action.
This intervention is better suited for use by counselors; if you are not a counselor, consult with one before using the device.
One area that teachers frequently mention: they are seldom given any useful, ready-to-use training to work with students who are their "own worst enemies.
" This article will help.
First, remember, though that teachers should seek help from counselors and other mental health professionals whenever working with troubled students.
These interventions can be a starting place, but only within the context of being sensitive to any safety concerns that vulnerable students can present.
All teachers must remember to be sure to seek help from their school counselor or social worker before using these ideas with troubled students if there is any possibility of safety issues.
FOR SELF-DESTRUCTIVE STUDENTS It can be tough to inspire students who are "anti-self" but this creative intervention can be a good start.
The quote on the worksheet has been attributed to the late Les Paul.
It says "The same power you have to destroy yourself, you have to save yourself.
" You can use this device verbally; it can quickly start a productive discussion.
You could also enlarge the worksheet into a poster.
Here is a wonderful alternative activity: Ask your students to research the life of Les Paul, who overcome many challenges to reach great heights as a musician and inventor.
INSPIRE HONESTY You are going to love this enjoyable, potent activity that can reduce lying.
While this device works with almost any age group, it won't be useful to use with the 11-14% of your class that may be conduct disordered.
However, this terrific experiential activity can have a lot of impact on the balance of your students.
To conduct this activity, you need lots of big books, or other heavy objects.
Dictionaries work really well.
Before starting, remind students of the requirement for you to report any disclosures that include safety concerns.
To begin the activity, initiate a discussion of lying.
Part way into the discussion, ask for a student to volunteer to help with a demonstration.
Select a student who has already revealed a lot of past lies-- but be sure to pick a youngster who revealed lies that are not serious, consequential, or personal.
Do not select youngsters who reveal lies that are serious, intimate, or personal.
Ask that student to briefly re-state the first lie.
As they speak, hand them the first big book.
Ask the student to say their second lie, and hand them another book.
Continue the process until the student is having great difficulty holding all the books, or until the student drops some books, or the student declines to continue.
Discuss with the class how lies weigh you down until they become impossible to carry.
FOR SAD STUDENTS Students often face struggles that their teachers and counselors can only imagine.
Many students don't disclose the nature of their distress, and that makes it very hard to intervene.
Here is a powerful intervention that can help you better understand what your students face.
If you have non-writers, you can do the writing portion of this activity as each youngster dictates to you.
Ask students to capture their year as if they were writing aTwitter tweet, which is just 140 characters.
Reducing a year to 140 characters may reveal information that could be more readily hidden in conversation.
Once you know more about the child's world view, you will have a better idea how to reach and inspire them.
You can adapt this idea to Facebook by asking students to give a several sentence long status update summarizing their year.
You may permit some students to use graphics or music instead of just words.
Before using this intervention, be sure to remind students that if they reveal abusive situations, that you are required to take protective action.
This intervention is better suited for use by counselors; if you are not a counselor, consult with one before using the device.
