Check-In & Check-Out

 Some students need a reason to behave in a desired way. Most of you have most likely heard of reward systems, especially if you've read my previous posts. There seem to be a million different reasons WHY students act the way they do, and I still could not even name the majority of them. One that I have run into quite frequently is attention-seeking behavior. Your students want your attention because maybe they don't get any at home, or if they do- it's negative attention. Sometimes kids only know to behave in an undesirable way to gain attention. This, while ultimately very sad, is true for a lot of our kiddos. One way that you can help to rewire them in this sense is to ignore undesirable behavior and pay attention and 'reward' desired behavior from your kiddos. This works for many, but sometimes there are still a few that need the attention either way. One of my favorite interventions is the check-in & check-out tool. At the beginning of class, you check in with your student about how they are feeling, what they may need, or anything else they want to share. This would also be a great time to frontload them with what is to come in the following lesson. 

Example:

"Jimmy I am so happy that you came to check in with me! How are we feeling right now?"

"I feel okay. I'm hungry and tired."

"Oh, man. Now that you say something, I am a little hungry too. Luckily, we have our morning snack right after we do reading, I think we have apples today! Do you think you can wait that long or would you like to have a few crackers before reading at my desk?"

"Crackers, please."

"Perfect. Let me grab them!" *give crackers* "Here you go, buddy! Okay, so while you have a snack, let's talk about reading. I know that reading is hard sometimes for us, even I get bored sometimes, but we are going to read for 30 minutes at our desks and then it will be time for those apples. How does that sound?"

Checking in can be good or bad for students. It is important for you to focus on THEM during this time so that they know you care. Likely, if they do not feel safe (yet), they will not have a solution or idea as to what can help them. They may be short or not give much information but don't worry- just keep working on building that trust and a positive relationship with them. 

Check-outs can go pretty similarly. This is a time to talk about what you say the student doing well and what could be done differently. Sometimes students get rewards if they do X amount of work or behave in a desirable way, but for others- your undivided attention can be enough. I'll share an example of a check-out where a student did not behave desirably and one where they did. 

Example:

"Jimmy! You did so well today staying at your desk during reading time! what was your favorite thing you read about? It looked like you were really into your books!:

"Miss Kylie I learned that when a crab loses a leg, it can grow back! That is why some of the big ones have tiny little claws and the other one is big!"

"That is so cool! I might have to check out that book to learn more about it! Maybe later in the year, you want to think about doing research on a crab for our ocean unit! Are you ready to have those apples now? Maybe you want to help me pass out napkins to the rest of our friends so we are all ready to go once I get them cut, what do ya say?"

"Sounds good!"

Example:

"Thanks for coming to chat with my Jimmy. I noticed you had a hard tie staying in your seat during reading. Thanks for being quiet on the rug though! What books were you able to read?"

"I didn't read any of those books."

"Oh no, it makes me sad to hear that. Is there a reason why you didn't want to read?"

"They are boring and dumb!"

"Jimmy that is not very kind, many of the books we have are class favorites and they have a lot of good stuff in them!"

"I don't care. I don't want to."

"That's okay, maybe tomorrow we can switch your books so you can find something that IS interesting to you and not boring so we can read for the whole 30 minutes instead of laying on the floor. What do you think?"

"Okay, but I'm not reading the horse book ever again."

"You don't have to! We have lots and lots of books that I know you haven't read yet, we can try some of those instead! Anyways, the reading is done for today so we can worry about it tomorrow. I'm still kinda hungry after those crackers we had, do you wanna help me pass out napkins to our friends so we can hurry up and have apples?"

"Yes, I'll get them."

Although check-outs don't always go well, especially when there is an undesired behavior, it is still important to do them. This will help your student to feel seen and heard, even if they did not behave how you wanted them to. It is also important to note that this is not a time for them to get in trouble. This is a time to learn about alternative choices they could have made and how to fi the ones they already made. If you noticed, Jimmy was able to pass out the napkins at the end of each different kind of behavior he displayed. It is important to give your students a job or something positive to get their minds off of what went badly and move on. This will help to stop the behavior in its tracks. 

I hope that you guys can use check-ins & check-outs with your students! There is no "wrong way" to do it really, just take the initiative and try different things. You never know- maybe this will help cut some of those undesired behaviors in your classroom!

Best of luck,

Kylie

Resources:

https://www.pbisrewards.com/blog/check-in-check-out-behavior-intervention/ 

Stability and Schedules

Hi Friends!

I want to talk a little bit about how to talk to your students with behavior problems. It might seem intimidating to hear that you have a first-grader who has a tendency to fight, swear, and elope. I know that the very first student I had scared me a little, even though he was a kindergartener. His IEP was not completed, he had no goals other than those set by his classroom teacher, his parents refused to keep a schedule with him, and even though they took him to get meds, the meds were either not the right dose or had to keep changing, or he didn't take them at all. Every day was a struggle until I figured out how to talk to him. Each kid is different, but there are a few things that are pretty straightforward and work across the board.

You HAVE to show up! These kids need structure in so many different areas. Their time, food, and emotional stability all need to be structured. I promise they are likely to not trust you right away, as most of the kiddos in schools nowadays have experienced more trauma and distrust than I can even fathom. Try your best to just be a good person. Show up, hold them accountable, and treat them like a normal kid. These are your first steps in building a relationship with your kiddo that will give them structure and consistency at school. 

Use the same language everywhere. If you are focusing their behavior visuals on "red choice and greed choice", then you need to use that language everywhere. You are retraining their brains to think in a way that is going to not only alter their behavior but also alter their thought processes as well. 

    Example: "Madi, I can see that you are not ready to come in from recess yet, but you are not making a GREEN CHOICE by refusing to come inside."

Remember- they are just kids. Too often adults give kids way too much responsibility. No child should experience the amount of trauma that today's kids do- but unfortunately, we cannot do much about that. All we can do is give them a space that is safe and a place to learn how to properly cope with the big feelings life can make you feel. One of the best things I've heard going around recently is "let them be little." I think this is no different at school. Let them play. Let them sing. Let them dance. Let them make mistakes, Let them learn. Let them have big feelings. Show them love- you never know much they need it. 

BEHAVIOR IS COMMUNICATION... Listen to it. 

https://challengingbehavior.org/docs/whatworks/WhatWorksBrief_3.pdf 

https://www.petitjourney.com.au/10-reasons-a-daily-routine-is-important-for-your-child-and-how-to-set-one/ 

https://www.scarymommy.com/what-let-them-be-little-really-means 

Setting Expectations

So your kiddo is driving you crazy and you don't know what to do? Been there, done that. When I first started working as a para, I was sort of just thrown in with the sharks. I was told I would have behavior training, but unfortunately, that did not happen. I was given the basics and added to an S.O.S. group chat, but that was pretty much it. I was so nervous that I would do something wrong or set the kid off even more. Truth be told- I did both. I still do both of these things, but that is a story for another time. I wanted to share one of the first things that should always be done with not only your behavior students but with the whole class. 

Set Classroom Behavior Expectations! It may sound like a thing that would make you go "duh", but there are lots of different
ways to do this. I have seen teachers write it on their whiteboards, give their students a "contract" to sign, and many other strategies. My favorite is to create a classroom "rule" poster that the students help to create. If students are included in the decision-making process, they are more likely to follow the expectations they have set for themselves. The students will feel as though they have a choice in what is acceptable, rather than being told what to do and being unable to share their opinions and ideas. Students can be part of a large group discussion that makes them feel empowered to have choices. You will want to do this within the first few days of school, even though things are already crazy. Setting your classroom up to have an environment where students feel safe, empowered, and heard is beyond important. Your students will help to come up with great rules, funny rules, and rules that you probably would not have thought of. Some of the ideas I have heard are:

1. No running

2. No stealing

3. Be kind

4. Be responsible for yourself- no tattling 

5. Don't step on someone's computer

6. Tell the truth

7. Work hard

8. Miss Kylie has to play with us at recess if she doesn't have meetings

9. If we have a good week we can bring a toy on Friday

10. Don't yell at your teachers or your classmates

Although these are great rules that I have heard students suggest for a classroom, they are only the basics. Sometimes students will say something funny, and sometimes you will question why something needs to be a rule at all- like "don't step on someone's computer." Letting students share their ideas and collaborate with their peers will help them feel valued, understand the importance of collaboration, and set a clear boundary for what you will allow in your classroom. Rules, rubrics, and syllabus days are boring, so let your students be silly when making the rules! Including some of their silly ideas will help them to understand that rules are give and take- if you do ___ then I will let you do ___. Let them be a part of the discussion and show them that what they say has value. 

Best of luck,

    Kylie

Our Class Rules
Student Collaboration

 https://theartofeducation.edu/2017/08/3-benefits-creating-classroom-expectations-students/

 https://www.scholarchip.com/student-behavior-management-strategies/

Who am I and why am I here?

 Hi everyone! My name is Kylie. I work as a paraprofessional and am currently finishing my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a Special Education endorsement. I have worked with grades K-4 with students who have a high need academically or behaviorally. So far, My favorite grade to work in has been first-grade. I love the littles and it is my dream to have my own first-grade classroom one day! When I first started as a para, even sometimes now, I felt lost. I did not get a lot of training and I pretty much walked into a classroom blind when it came to what I should expect. I have met so many amazing people and found a ton of resources that helped me. Some things work, some things do not work. Sometimes it really just depends on your kiddo and the day they are having. Always remember- BEHAVIOR IS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION. I am so excited to start my blog and share the things I have learned over the years with you all! Thanks for reading! 😊