Dealing with Escalating Behavior and Verbal Harassment

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Dealing with Escalating
Behavior and Verbal Harassment
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Dealing with Escalating BehaviorAssumptions

• I cant let a student get away with this. What
  will the other students think?
• I need to establish authority.
• I need to settle down agitated students.
• I need to be in control.

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Analysis of Common Assumptions and Practices for
Managing Antisocial Students

• Assumptions
• 1. Teachers need to be in control
• 2. Teachers need to establish authority
• 3. Children must not get away with behavior
  otherwise what will other children think?
• 4. Students need to be settled down when they
  become agitated.
• Alternatives

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Signs of Escalating Behavior

• Questioning and arguing
• Noncompliance and defiance
• Verbal abuse
• Disruption
• Bothering others
• Destruction of property
• Whining and Crying
• Limit Testing
• Threats and Intimidation
• Avoidance/Escape
• Off-task Behavior

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Phases of Escalating Behavior - 1
Phase One Calm 1. On task 2. Follows
rules expectations 3. Responsive to
praise 4. Initiates behavior 5. Goal
Oriented 6. Socially appropriate
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Phase Two Triggers

• School-Based
• 1. Conflicts
• a. Denial of something needed
• b. Something negative is inflicted
• 2. Changes in Routine
• 3. Provocations
• 4. Pressure
• 5. Interruptions
• 6. Ineffective problem solving
• 7. Academic Errors
• 8. Corrections

• Non-School-Based
• 1. Family Disruption
• 2. Health Problems
• 3. Abuse
• 4. Nutrition
• 5. Sleep
• 6. Substance abuse
• 7. Gang involvement

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Phase Three Agitation
Increase in Behavior 1. Eyes dart 2. Language
non- conversational 3. Busy hands 4. In and out
of group 5. Off-task / On-task

• Decrease in Behavior
• 1. Stares into space
• 2. Language subdued
• 3. Hands contained
• 4. Withdraws from group
• 5. Off-task, Frozen

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Phase Four Acceleration
1. Questioning Arguing 2. Non-compliance
defiance 3. Off-task 4. Provoking students 5.
Whining crying
6. Compliance with inappropriate behaviors 7.
Avoidance escape 8. Threats and intimidation 9.
Verbal abuse
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Phase Five PEAK
1. Serious destruction of property 2. Assault 3.
Self-abuse
4. Severe tantrums 5. Hyperventilation 6.
Screaming 7. Running 8. Violence
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Phase Six De-escalation
1. Confusion 2. Reconciliation 3. Withdrawal 4.
Denial 5. Blaming others 6. Sleeping
7. Responsive to directions 8. Responsive to
manipulative or mechanical tasks 9. Avoidance of
discussion (unless there is occasion to blame
others)
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The basic approaches to preventing escalating
behavior are to
1) Recognize the behavioral signs for
escalation 2) Avoid escalating responses 3)
Maintain calmness, respect, and detachment
and 4) Use crisis prevention techniques.
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Techniques for Managing Agitation

• Teacher Support
• Space
• Choices
• Preferred Activities
• Teacher Proximity

• Independent Activities
• Movement Activities
• Involvement of the Student
• Relaxation Activities

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Avoid Escalating Responses

• Getting in the students face
• Discrediting student
• Nagging or preaching
• Arguing
• Engaging in power struggles
• Tugging or grabbing the student
• Cornering the student
• Shouting or raising voice