Strategies for Drug-Exposed Kids

Ms. Ellie Giles is an educational and management consultant. She is known for work with behavior-disordered and drug-exposed kids. Questions for Thought: 1. How can environmental modification affect drug-exposed kids? 2. What are some of the strategies for teaching self-monitoring? I. Cory's World II. Environmental Modifications

1. Movable equipment and materials
   1. Removed to reduce stimulation
   2. Added to enrich an activity
2. Structure and organization
   1. Encourages interaction
   2. Promotes self-organization skills
3. Establish routines
   1. Structured and constant
   2. Predictable
   3. Clearly defined
4. Making transitions

III. Monitoring Strategies

1. Remain alert
2. Intervene quickly
3. Model effective communication
4. Notice directions
5. Check for understanding

IV. Behavior Modification Strategies

1. Define the behavior
2. Observe and record behavior
3. Set goals
4. Disctiss motivators
5. Select procedures
6. Rehearse
7. Include all participants

H. Evaluate and modity

TEACHING DRUG-EXPOSED CHILDREN

by Ellie Giles

I. Characteristics of Drug-Exposed Children

1. Highly distractible
2. Demonstrate difficulty communicating
3. Directions repeated
4. Tend to frustrate easily
5. In constant motion
6. Prone to violent rages
7. Cry frequently

II. Managing The Instructional Environment For Drug-Exposed Children

1. The classroom should have movable materials and equipment which can be easily removed to reduce stimulation, or added to enrich an activity.
2. The classroom should have a structure and organization which encourages student interactions with that environment and also promotes self-organization skills.
3. Routines should be established which are structured, constant, predictable, and clearly defined.

III. Behavior Management For Drug-Exposed Children

1. Define the behaviors:
   1. behaviors that can be seen, heard, or touched
   2. definitions should refer to directly observable actions
2. Observe and record the behaviors:
   1. establish pafferns or stages of response
   2. Conference with your student
3. Establish a goal:
   1. Student must recognize behaviors and respond to them in an acceptable manner
4. Discuss types of motivators:
   1. Things that went well with your student
5. Select teaching procedures:
   1. How will you teach recognition and response?
6. Rehearse and role play:
   1. Involve everyone
   2. Plan for possible obstacles
7. Include all participants:
   1. parents and other teachers
8. Monitor and collect data:
   1. allows you to modify the plan over time
   2. as each strategy is mastered, supports are removed and independence is encouraged

Classroom Discipline

For more information

Teacher's Workshop 1250 Overlook Ridge Bishop, GA 30621

Call: 1-800-991-1114

Email us at: [email protected]