The clocks went forward this weekend and winter returned to Switzerland.
But hang on a minute!
If the clocks went forward should it not be summer?
Well it would seem that in these challenging times the weather is also a trifle confused. It appears that nothing is certain at the moment except for the uncertain
In this post I would like to discuss supporting young students who exhibit challenging behaviour... ONLINE.
How can we help our students navigate this ‘New Normal’?
We can help them in the same way as we would normally, the difference is we are now working together remotely. We still need to ensure that we are available for them and that we take the time to listen to them and understand how this new situation is impacting them. They need to recognise that we are still there for them and that our priority is to help them succeed.
How can we do this?
I believe with careful consideration of our students' needs we can plan and communicate to facilitate their success. We need to form a strong team with ourselves, our students and their parents. We all have the same goal.
Communication
Firstly, we must reach out to our most vulnerable students regularly. It is essential that we make time to connect with them and ensure that we can support their needs. This can be achieved through collaboration with both parents and students to devise the best manner of interaction. It might be that we use a conferencing platform to allow us to meet face to face (Always be conscious of safeguarding issues and ensure a parent is also present).
It is also important at this time to reassure parents. The parent-child relationship can be placed under significant stress when suddenly the parent has to also take on the role in part of being the teacher and we can help here. Every effort must be made to maintain positive relationships. If online learning is becoming a battlefield then we need to step in and remind parents that learning will take place regardless and that stepping back and dialling down online activities is okay.
Priorities have to be set and relationships have to come first. Our students who exhibit challenging behaviour need to feel they have a voice and need to know that they and their voices are valued. So, listen to them and understand that this is a difficult situation and we must navigate it in the most positive way that we can, together.
Planning
We are all aware of the negative impact which can accompany change when we think of our students who exhibit challenging behaviour. The need to work for significant periods of time online and the increased independence that this requires can result in our students rebelling. We need to prepare them for this the best we can. Often a heads up on what might be coming next can avoid unnecessary anxiety.
We can be more creative in how we interact with our students and consider being flexible in our expectations. Feelings will be running high due to the anxiety new situations can bring and the lack of appropriate skills which our students need to deal with this. Providing a schedule where the students can clearly understand what is expected on a daily basis can help here.
Consider the use of your normal schedule and if it is appropriate at this time, alternatives such as visual schedules with simple instructions may be more successful. Expectations will need to be reduced to compensate for the increased challenge of working remotely.
Have Fun
It has never been more important to preserve a sense of fun with learning. Do not forget to make time for breaks and introduce activities such as; PE with Joe or GoNoodle to get the body moving and to allow a brain break. Spend time together as a family.
We Can Do This!
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