Reference no: EM133722722

Instruction

In one paragraph, provide a reflection on what you have learned during this module and in the course, so far, consider the most salient point(s), how it/they will affect your work and career, or how it/they have changed your thinking.

Module 3 Required Readings & Resources

Textbook: Chapter 5 Class textbook: Strategies for Including Children with Special Needs in Early Childhood Settings- by Cook/Richardson-Gibbs/Nielsen 2ed

Module 3 Overview

The Individuals with Disability Education Act mandates providing special needs students to learn in the least restrictive environment. Although some children have difficulties in behaving appropriately, and, therefore, an all-day inclusive placement might not always be the best fit.

For example, a child with mild or moderate behavior difficulties will typically fare well in a learning environment with general education students. On the other hand, professional adults should consider how the child can partially participate in an inclusive environment when severe behavior difficulties are prevalent. When safety is a concern for the child with difficulties, providing a modified schedule should be considered.

Lecture Content
Preventing and Managing Appropriate Behaviors
The Individuals with Disability Education Act mandates providing special needs students to learn in the least restrictive environment. Although some children have difficulties in behaving appropriately, and, therefore, an all-day inclusive placement might not always be the best fit.

For example, a child with mild or moderate behavior difficulties will typically fare well in a learning environment with general education students. On the other hand, professional adults should consider how the child can partially participate in an inclusive environment when severe behavior difficulties are prevalent. When safety is a concern for the child with difficulties, providing a modified schedule should be considered.

The Function

Every behavior has a function. Some children will misbehave to escape from doing the class activity. On the other hand, some children will misbehave to stop socially communicating and interacting with others. For example, some children with autism will escape the social opportunities provided by most learning communities today.

When students want to escape a daily routine, they will refuse to participate in the activity. Some of these children will verbally scream and, at times, will physically through a tantrum. Understanding the behavior's function is the key to helping children stay safe, learn, and have some fun.

The Language

Children have a fantastic way to express their thoughts to others. Some children like to gesture, while other children can verbally communicate their needs and wants. It is not always clear if the child has a behavior or language issue and why they are not following directions.

Professional adults need to work with families to meet the needs of their learners in the classroom. If the child is a dual language learner, a teacher can provide visuals that communicate ideas. On the other hand, if a non-dual language child shuts down verbally, professional adults need to modify their traditional behavior management approach.

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

There are three main factors of why professional adults should conduct an FBA. Safety is always most important, and if the child tends to hurt himself or others during the traditional school day, conducting an FBA is justified. Learning is also another reason why we should consider exploring an FBA. When children have difficulties learning the core curriculum, professional adults should discuss using an FBA to motivate the child's learning. Lastly, in the area of atypical development observed, we could use FBA to facilitate the child's growth: socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually, and verbally.

Antecedent & Behavior

Promoting quality of life should be our goal as professional adults while socially communicating and interacting with students. Therefore, a positive behavior support system is essential to diminish inappropriate behaviors and possibly extinct any reward system used during the traditional school day. Most behaviors have an antecedent that ignites an unwanted action from the child. For example, some children do not like to interact with others socially. If the child knows they will need to work in a small group, they will have tantrums. The physical and verbal tantrum is the behavior.

Consequence

We have seen so much about how some professional adults provide consequences when children act out in the classroom. For example, one consequence could be a verbal warning. In other words, the child who does something that is not appropriate, the teacher will say to the child, "if I need to remind you of our class rules again, you will be sent to the office." In many ways, this consequence will not make the behavior better in the long term. Therefore, teachers should use consequences in the most positive way of saying when children demonstrate negative behavior. How professional adults can facilitate a quality of life can to all children can make a difference in promoting safety, learning, and having fun in the classroom.