Understanding Behavior As Communication
As a special education teacher, I know that we are aware that behavior is a form of communication, and constantly saying that behavior is communication and not giving tangible steps to support others when dealing with negative behaviors can be frustrating at times.
There is a difference between a behavior in your classroom where a student is easily redirected a couple of times, and extinguishing a negative behavior.
Extinguishing negative behaviors is important for several reasons here are five reasons why negative behaviors should be extinguished.
IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS:
Negative behaviors can damage relationships with others, such as being aggressive, disrespectful, or dismissive. By addressing and extinguishing these negative behaviors, you can create a more positive and healthy dynamic classroom.
REDUCING STRESS
Negative behaviors can create stress for both the person engaging in the behavior and other students around them. By eliminating negative behaviors, you can reduce the amount of stress and tension in your classroom.
INCREASING PERSONAL GROWTH:
Addressing and extinguishing negative behaviors can be a form of personal growth. It can help students become more self-aware, develop new coping strategies, and improve their overall well-being.
ACHIEVING GOALS:
Negative behaviors can interfere with a student's ability to achieve their goals, whether they are personal or professional. By eliminating these behaviors, you can create a more positive and productive environment that supports the child's success.IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH:
Negative behaviors can also harm mental health, both for the person engaging in the behavior and those around them. By addressing and eliminating negative behaviors, you can improve the student’s mental health and well-being, as well as that of others.
Extinguishing a behavior is not for the faint of heart. Consistently ignoring the negative behavior and fits isn't easy, especially when others are giving you the stink eye or you feel like throwing in the towel. You may be tempted to punish, intervene, or succumb to the student’s demands just to make the behavior stop. But an extinction program does work. Two things are key: Be consistent and Be prepared. It gets worse before it gets better.
When a behavior is no longer reinforced there is a time when the behavior will increase in frequency, duration, or intensity before the behavior decreases and ultimately stops. It is important that all members of your classroom team are on the same page and doing the same thing, otherwise the extinction period will last a very long time.
During the extinction period, do not lose hope. The behavior is no longer being reinforced, but the behavior continues and increases. The storm always comes before the cam, and if you are in the storm right now I feel for you, especially if you have students in your classroom that mimic other students.
The storm may be calm, but at times you will hear and see negative behaviors from throwing things across the room to saying everything they can to get your attention. This is a natural occurrence because they are doing all that they can to get your attention.
One misconception is that using an extinction strategy is just ignoring the behavior, this is inaccurate because extinction means removing the reinforcement. Ignoring the problem behavior only works if attention is what the student is seeking, the reinforcer.
No matter what you do to support a student, one way to sabotage an existing behavior plan or extinguish a plan is reinforcing a behavior intermittently, before the plan is completely followed through.
Although it is a challenge, and sometimes you just want to throw in the towel, being consistent is your secret to extinguishing negative behavior that impacts your classroom.
Do you need support extinguishing behaviors in your classroom, then let’s chat and develop a plan that is going to support every student in your classroom. Book a call with me and let’s work together for student success.
