Special+Education+in+Contemporary+Socities


 * Special Education in Contemporary Societies **

Disorders can be results of both biological and environmental factors.

Students with behavioral or emotional disorders often, 50% of the time, have other disabilities as well (such as depression.)

"Childhood maltreatment contributes to the development of emotional or behavioral disorders...As a teacher, your role is critical in identifying and reporting your suspicions of child maltreatment" (p.287).

"Poverty has shown to be a significant risk factor for the development of emotional or behavioral disorders, as it often translates into increased family stress, poor healthcare, underachievement, and other negative outcomes. The United States has one of the highest poverty rates in all developed countries" (p.286-287).

A student who does not want to do his work will act out and be noncompliant. Often he will be punished and sent out of the room, which actually reinforces behavior, because now he doesn't have to do the work. 1. Understand the function of the behavior (in this case avoidance,) 2. respond to the student in more productive ways (for example, reinforce on-task behaviors, don't engage in exchanges that allow the student to escape or avoid assignments, if tasks are too difficult, differentiate the materials, such as similar worksheets)
 * Creating a coercive cycle **
 * Alternatives to coercive interactions **

While I do notice my CT engaging in coercive interactions at times, she often tries to avoid them by allowing students to stand or move around (to some degree) when they need to. Instead of constantly yelling at or even advising a student to be on task she will go to them, help them, then move on to another student. If the student gets off takes she may say a word or two to remind them, and then continue on with another student, eventually making her way back to students who are struggling, if time allows.
 * In my classroom:**

References for this page: Gargiulo, R. (2012). //Special Education in Contemporary Society//. Los Angeles: Sage. **Pages 285-287.**