Agitation, Escalation, Outbursts

Everyone should know that you don't fight fire with fire, and when it comes to putting out fires in the classroom, the best practice is to be proactive and avoid them. Teachers should get to know the students well enough to know what triggers an escalation in negative behavior. Students should be taught to deal with the trigger independently in an appropriate way. If the student's behavior does escalate, have de-escalation supports in place for the student to calm down instead of having an extreme outburst.

• Be available to communicate with student: for the student, there is a reason they are acting out
• Give student a choice
• Ensure environment is safely adapted to deal with an outburst, and is not causing agitation

• Ensure safety
• Give time and space
• Try visual support, not auditory
• Be calm, non-threatening
• Offer to help student with activity
• Redirect: humor, surprise
• Try framing problem and have them help provide the solution
• Provide sensory, calming activities

• What does the student need?
• How can I be more proactive?
• How can I respond better?
• Reward replacement behavior
• Use social narratives
• Practice calming/coping skills

~From the SELPA Parent Handbook