Handout 8 | Handout 9 | Handout 10 | Handout 11 | Handout 12 | Handout 13 | Handout 14 | Handout 15 | Handout 16
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Trainer and Coach Preparation Notes:Before leading the activities in this module, review the Questions and Answers about Children with Challenging Behaviors section that appears on pp. 8-10 in the Introduction. |
| Activity 2-1: Take a Look |
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Purpose: This workshop activity will help participants practice their observation skills as they create a running record of a role-play scenario. The importance of focusing on strengths and solutions, as well as identifying needs, will be highlighted throughout the activity. |
| Tip for the trainer: For more information and in-depth discussion about running records and other types of observation tools, see the Education guide in this series, Observation and Recording: Tools for Decision Making. |
| Tip for the Trainer: Be sure to record only the facts on the chart paper, not interpretations. For example, if a participant suggests that "Eddie can't control himself when Diane touches his toys," work with the participant to get just the facts. In such cases, you might ask, "What exactly did Eddie do to Diane? At what point did he behave that way?" Also, be sure that positive behaviors and interactions are recorded. For this, you may have to offer some prompts. For example, you might ask, "Who does Eddie relate well to?" "At what times does he seem particularly focused?" "What facts support your statements?" (See the description of Eddie's role on Handout 9-Roles, which notes situations in which Eddie does well during the skit.) |
Point out that when we look at a child with problem behaviors, we often focus on those behaviors that "push our buttons" rather than areas where the child shines. Remind participants that when collecting data, it is important that the child be observed in different settings, and by different people, including parents and specialists who work with the child. In all observations, it is important that observers note what is happening when exhibiting problem behaviors. When we pool data and observations form all team members, we can begin to distinguish between a child's "troubled" versus "troubling" behavior. We can also better assess the child's strengths and needs across different situations, identify which adults the child connects with most consistently, begin to understand what the child is trying to communicate through his behavior, and pinpoint aspects of environments or situations that affect the child, both positively and negatively. Armed with this data, we can modify our own behavior, and construct interventions to help the child succeed.
| Activity 2-2: Promoting Protective Factors* |
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Purpose: Before planning specific interventions
for a child, Head Start staff must have a sense of the child's strengths,
interests, and needs in different areas and across different settings.
Staff, as a team, must also jointly assess the program's ability to
promote protective factors for children. This workshop activity will
provide an overview of resilience research; it will also help teams
assess how they are promoting protective factors for children and
develop steps to enhance these efforts. We recommend that teaching
teams and their supervisors, as well as parents, participate in this
activity. |
Arrange for: Easel, chart paper, markers, and tape
Duplicate:
Handout 10—Making a Difference
(p. 60): one for each participant
Handout 11—Strategies to Support
Resilience (p. 61): one for each participant
Handout 12—Where Are We? (p.
62-63): one for each participant
Extra copies of Handout 11—Strategies to Support
Resilience and Handout 12—Where Are We? for participants to
share with their teams when they return to their programs
| Trainer Preparation Notes:
For a more in-depth discussion about resilience and promoting protective factors for children, see the Health training guide in this series, Promoting Mental Health. |
| Tip for the Trainer: All families have a right to confidentiality. That is, information about Head Start children and families can only be shared within Head Start on a "need-to-know" basis. Before participants share their descriptions of children in the program, make sure they fully understand issues around confidentiality. |
| Tip for the Trainer: Have participants complete Handout 12—Where Are We? individually if team members are not participating in this workshop. |
Explain that the resilience approach is a hopeful and empowering one, and provides a new lens for viewing children with problem behaviors. As a first step of an intervention, this approach focuses on positive steps that adults can take to help children succeed in school and in life. Point out that when we analyze what is happening when a child with significant problem behaviors is doing well, we will most likely see protective factors at work: whether it is a special, cared-for person nearby; participation in an activity in which the child is interested; or meaningful involvement and responsibility in the classroom environment.
Emphasize that Head Start staff can play a key role in promoting protective factors for children, but teamwork is essential. Head Start staff must work together, as well as with parents and other professionals, to make a commitment to promote protective factors for children, and then work to develop, implement, and evaluate concrete strategies to help children succeed.
| Activity 2-3: Promoting Protective Factors* |
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Purpose: In this coaching session, participants focus on children' s strengths, and identify steps they can take to support their resilience. |
This session has three parts: 1) a discussion of the resilience research; 2) identification of Head Start strategies for supporting children's resilience; and 3) development of a specific plan staff can use to capitalize on the strengths of, and promote protective factors for, a child with challenging behaviors in their classroom. At the end of the session, participants will receive an assignment: to implement the plan they developed, using running records to track and evaluate their plan's effectiveness; and to work with parents to help them focus on their child's areas of competence. To prepare for this session:
| Tip for the Coach: All families have a right to confidentiality. That is, information
about Head Start children and families can only be shared within
Head Start on a "need-to-know" basis. Before participants
share their descriptions of children in the program, make sure
they fully understand issues around confidentiality. |
| Tip for the Coach: Suggest to participants that they later use Handout 12-Where
Are We? with their team to assess how well they promote protective
factors for individual children. |
Tip for the Coach: As participants brainstorm action steps, help them see how
these steps relate to the strategies they generated earlier
for supporting resilience. |
Explain that the resilience approach is a hopeful and empowering one, and provides a new lens for viewing children with problem behaviors. As a first step in an intervention, this approach focuses on positive steps that adults can take to help children succeed in school and in life. Point out that when we analyze what is happening when a child with a significant problem behavior is doing well, we will most likely see protective factors at work: whether it is a special, cared-for person nearby; participation in an activity in which the child is interested; or meaningful involvement and responsibility in the classroom environment. Give participants their assignment. Ask them, over the course of the next few weeks, to implement the plan they developed to support an individual child with challenging behaviors. During this time, participants should also carefully observe the child's behaviors and interactions. Stress the importance of collecting data that captures not only the child's needs, but also the child's strengths and interests. As one mental health professional advised teachers, "Be a good observer. Catch them being good." Give several copies of Handout 8-Running Record Form to participants. Suggest that they use the record form to document their observations over time. Encourage participants to share at least one of the child's strengths with the child's parents, and involve them in "seeing" and learning to focus on their child's area of competence.
Tips for the Coach: Activity 2-1: Take a Look, offers a more detailed discussion about
using records to objectively document information about children's
strengths and needs. Use information from this activity if you feel
it is appropriate for your group of participants. |
Close by emphasizing that Head Start staff can play a key role in promoting protective factors for children, but teamwork is essential. Head Start staff must work together, as well as with parents and other professionals, to make a commitment to promote protective factors for children, and then work to develop, implement, and evaluate concrete strategies to help children succeed.
| Activity 2-4: Assessing the Classroom Environment |
Purpose: In this workshop activity, participants assess how the physical setup of the classroom, as well as classroom routines, can affect children's behavior. Based on their assessments, participants will develop a plan for adapting their classroom space and routines to meet the needs of children with significant problem behaviors. |
Arrange for: Easel, chart paper, markers, and tape
Duplicate:
Handout 13-Trouble Spots (p. 64): one
for each participant
Handout 14-Checklist (pp. 65-66): one
for each participant
Handout 15-Adapting the Environment
(p. 67): one for each participant
Handout 16-Adapting Routines and Transitions (p. 68): one for each participant
| Tip for the Trainer: Handout 13-Trouble Spots is designed for distribution after
participants generate a list of areas where children often experience
difficulties. However, if the group appears to be struggling,
feel free to distribute the handout earlier, or use it yourself
to guide the discussion. |
Summarize the key points from the activity. Point out that sometimes
we get stuck trying the same strategies again and again, even when they
don't seem effective. In these cases, it is important to acknowledge
when alternatives are needed; it is also important to focus on what
we can change, such as classroom setup and routines. Emphasize that
while a nurturing, developmentally appropriate classroom provides an
essential backdrop for every strategy, it may not be enough to overcome
a child's difficulties. In these instances, it is important to ask for
additional support from the children's family, the teaching team, and
supervisors. The mental health professional on your staff may also serve
as a valuable resource. How and when to seek these supports is the focus
of the next module.
| Activity 2-5: Making Changes |
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Purpose: In this coaching session, participants
identify changes they can make to help children with challenging
behaviors succeed in their classrooms. |
This session has three parts: 1) a review of the assignment from the previous coaching session, Activity 2-3: Finding Strengths; 2) a discussion of problems commonly experienced by children with challenging behaviors; and 3) identification of changes Head Start staff can make in the classroom to help children through common trouble spots. At the end of the session, participants will receive an assignment, which involves assessing their own classroom setup and using the results to implement needed adaptations. To prepare for this session:
| Tip for the Coach: Handout 13-Trouble Spots is designed for distribution after
participants generate a list of areas where children often experience
difficulties. However, if the group appears to be struggling,
feel free to distribute the handout earlier, or use it yourself
to guide the discussion. |
Summarize the key points from the activity. Point out that sometimes we get stuck trying the same strategies again and again, even when they are not effective. In these cases, it is important to acknowledge when alternatives are needed. It is also important to focus on what we can change, such as classroom setup and routines.
Distribute Handout 14-Checklist, Handout 15-Adapting the Environment, and Handout 16-Adapting Routines and Transitions. For their assignment, ask participants to use these handouts to pinpoint specific problem areas for individual children, identify adaptations that will be made, and monitor the child's responses to the changes made. Encourage participants to share the results with a colleague or supervisor; and then use the results to strategize next steps.
| Next Steps: Ideas to Extend Practice |
As a supervisor, you can encourage and support staff
members to practice what they have learned in this module. Some ways to accomplish this include: |
1. Ask interested staff to work with their supervisors, the disabilities services coordinator, or the program's mental health professional to analyze developmental checklists and observation tools that the program currently uses (or plans to use). Ask staff to assess if these tools are deficit-based, focusing on the child's needs and problems, or strength-based, focusing on the child's strengths and interests across different areas. Invite staff to prepare a report including a set of recommendations (for example, possible adaptations to existing tools) based on their findings, and present them at the next management team meeting.
2. Feature a panel to help participants better understand a parent's point of view. For example, the panel might focus on the challenges of raising a child with significant emotional and behavioral problems, the realities of working with a myriad of service systems, the feelings parents may have of being blamed for their child's behavior, or strategies that foster parent-professional partnerships. Contact your local speakers' bureau or your regional Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) provider to identify speakers for this session.
3. Involve staff in helping parents focus on their child's strengths. Some teachers, for instance, send notes home to parents on a weekly basis,reporting on the child's achievements, big or small. Another teacher turned empty coffee cans into "I Can" cans for each child. She began by depositing slips of paper that contained records of each child's successes ("I can do the zoo puzzle," "I can share crayons with my friends"). Then she sent the cans home with a big note, "PLEASE OPEN AND SEE WHAT'S INSIDE. THEN ADD SLIPS OF YOUR OWN AND RETURN." In this way, parents were encouraged to reinforce their children's successes, and parents and teachers had ongoing communication about strengths and accomplishments.
4. Look for ways to support parents and guardians to promote protective
factors in the home. Perhaps a joint session on resilience, followed
by teacher/parent communication about specific strategies, can support
both parent and staff efforts. Staff might also develop a community
resource list that parents could access, that includes information about
programs that encourage children to establish close bonds with adults,
such as foster grandparents, Big Brothers/Sisters, volunteer mentors,
etc.
5. Have your staff view Educating Peter, the 1992 Academy Award winner
for best documentary short subject. The movie is the story of Peter,
a child with unpredictable behavior, and his classmates, as they "test
the limits" of a classroom in which all students learn together.
(Note: Peter is in a third grade class in a suburban Virginia public
school, so the age of the children, the socioeconomic status of their
families, and the activities in the classroom are quite different from
what one would find in a Head Start program. However, the issues, challenges,
feelings, and remarkable advances made by all involved are similar to
the experiences of others who strive to provide an inclusive classroom
for children with problem behaviors.) After viewing the film together,
use the study guide that accompanies the video to elicit participants'
reactions, concerns, and visions. (Educating Peter may be purchased
from Ambrose Video Publishing, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 22-45,
New York, NY 10104 for $79.95 plus shipping. Try your local library
or your T/TA provider first to see if it is available for borrowing.)
Handout 8 | Handout
9 | Handout 10 | Handout
11 | Handout 12 | Handout
13 | Handout 14 | Handout
15 | Handout 16