Accepting the Challenge:
Understanding and Educating
Students with Behavioral,
Attentional, and Emotional Learning
Needs
Nancy Rappaport M.D
Jessica Minahan, M.Ed, BCBA
Students with Mental
Health Issues: Statistics
• About 10% of the U.S. school
population (9-13 million children)
struggle with mental health problems
• Students with EBD:
– only 20% ages 14-21 received high
school diploma
– 48% drop out of grades 9-12
– 30% were employed
– 58% had been arrested
SOS tips for teachers
• Misbehavior is a symptom of an underlying cause
She can’t
vs
She won’t
• Behavior is communication
• Behavior has a function
• Behavior occurs in patterns
• The only behavior teachers can control is their
own
• Behavior can be changed
Traditional Behavior Chart
Activity
Following Adult
Directions
Using School
Language
Using a Safe
Body
Morning Meeting
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Math
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Reading/Writing
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Science
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Lunch
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Recess
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
Students need a FAIR Behavior
Intervention Plan
• Functional hypothesis of intent of behavior
and antecedent analysis
• Accommodations
• Interaction Strategies
• Response Strategies
ABC Chart
Interaction Strategies...
Flexibility and Cooperation
• TRANSITIONS:
• 4 Components to transitions:
1.Stopping the activity
2.Making the cognitive shift to next
activity
3.Starting the next activity
4.The inherent lack of structure
during transitions
Self-monitoring Sheet
1: Not
demonstrated
2: Somewhat
demonstrated
Schedule
music
3: Consistently
demonstrated
Strategies:
(Use a strategy to earn a strategy point)
1.When I am frustrated I will ask for help or a break
2.
Expected Behavior 1
Safe Behavior
Expected Behavior 2
Listen Directions
Expected Behavior 3
Do My Work
Student
Student
Student
Teacher
Teacher
Teacher
Strategy
Point
“ I used
a
strategy
Contact Info:
Website:
www.jessicaminahan.com
www.nancyrappaport.com
Twitter:
@jessica_minahan
@docrappaport
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TheBehaviorCode
The Behavior Code:
A Practical Guide to Understanding and
Teaching the Most Challenging Students
________________________________________________
Available for Purchase:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Behavior-Code-PracticalUnderstanding-Challenging/dp/1612501362/
Harvard Education Press:
http://www.hepg.org/hep/book/161/TheBehaviorCode