Challenging Behaviors

Building Effective and Successful Teams Project

The BEST Project’s Challenging Behaviors module provides early childhood programs with the opportunity to develop a proactive problem-solving approach to teaching children with challenging behaviors.  Participants develop a solid foundation for enhancing social development, identify and practice successful strategies for supporting positive behavior, and strengthen their skills for working with children who exhibit challenging behaviors.  They also identify resources that can assist them in creating and maintaining a positive approach to managing challenging behaviors.

The module’s structure and format is based on the University of Idaho’s Building Effective and Successful Teams (BEST) model for delivering in-service training, which emphasizes team learning and direct application of knowledge.  This model has been researched, refined and used successfully with over 200 teams.  Teams of two to ten staff members and collaborators form site-based study groups to complete each chapter in the in-service training module. Teams are usually made up of people who work with each other on a regular basis.  Members can include teachers, specialists, aides, administrators, support staff, and other interested individuals such as parents or community volunteers.  Teams usually take 1½ - 2 hours to study a chapter by reading and discussing the material and completing activities together.  Programs may arrange team meetings to fit their schedule. Program supervisors and/or BEST staff members monitor and support their work through e-mail, mail, telephone and/or on-site visits.  Pre, post, and follow-up surveys are completed to evaluate growth related to training efforts.

There are six chapters in the Challenging Behaviors module.  Topics covered include:

·         Assessing the current skills and attitudes of the team

·         Reviewing program mission statements and discipline policies

·         Creating behavioral expectations and incentives

·         Enhancing children’s social competence

·         Using effective instruction strategies

·         Identifying strategies to use when a child doesn’t respond

·         Avoiding behavioral “traps” and focusing on positive behavior

·         Observing and assessing children’s behavior

·         Determining the function or intent of children’s challenging behavior

·         Developing a Positive Behavioral Support plan

For more information, please contact Jennifer J. Olson or Laurie Danahy at the University of Idaho, BEST Project, 129 West Third Street, Moscow, ID  83843.  Phone: 208-885-3588

E-mail: jenn@uidaho.edu or ldanahy@uidaho.edu.

Website: http://www.educ.uidaho.edu/best/