Addressing Barriers to Learning Using Behavioral

Techniques

Mental Health in the Schools Series: Module I

Objectives

• Identify Risk/Protective Factors

• Identify the Problematic Behavior

• Practice Collecting Data

• Identify the Function of Behavior

• Identify Interventions that Teach

Replacement Behaviors

• Cultural Awareness

Risk Factors/Barriers to Learning

•Early Development

•Disorders

•Family Stressors

•Experiential Stressors

Protective FactorsProtective Factors:: Building Building blocks of healthy development that help blocks of healthy development that help young people grow up well balanced, young people grow up well balanced, caring, and responsible.caring, and responsible.

• Early DevelopmentEarly Development

• Quality of Family/HomeQuality of Family/Home

• Quality of ChildQuality of Child

• Competence and ConfidenceCompetence and Confidence

Cultural Awareness

• KNOW YOUR STUDENTS!

• Be aware of the impact of your own culture and world views

• Recognize that cultural differences exist WITHIN ethnic groups

• Enhance students’ self-image, motivation, and cultural pride

• Initiate home-school collaboration

Defining the Problem

When Problems Occur…

1. Identify a Target Behaviora. Define Target Behavior (measurable & observable) b. Collect data (consistency)

2. Utilize Support Services

3. Communicate with the Student (In Private!)

4. Contract with the Student

Data collection time

Analysis of Data to Determine the Function of

Behavior• What do you think the student gets by

behaving this way?

• What actually happens to/for the student?

• What does the student avoid or get out of?

• Does the student’s behavior result in a power struggle?

Examples of Cultural Diversity

• Caution against STEREOTYPING!– Some cultures often have a family/community-

centered perception of mental illness– Some cultures view mental health services as

intrusive and “anti-family”– Some cultures view mental illness as a “test of

faith”– Cultural bound syndromes– Cultural systems among gangs

Interventions When The Behavior Is…

• Attention-Seeking:(It’s a human need!)

• Power:(You gain power by surrendering it!)

• Escape:

(Flight or fight)

Reinforcement

Reinforcement is desirable to the person who receives it.

• The student wants the event to happen again so the teacher/staff repeats the action.

ALL people seek reinforcement!• Not just children or people who have

some type of disability!

Replacement Behaviors

Teaching Replacement Behavior(s)

• Role Play Activity• Barriers?• Strategies to address

barriers?

Remember!

“For a child to learn something new you need to repeat it on the average 8 times. For a child to UNLEARN an old behavior and replace it with a new behavior, you need to repeat the new behavior on the average of 28 times. Twenty of those times are used to eliminate the old behavior and 8 of the times are used to learn the new behavior.”

Harry K. Wong

Promoting Social Protective Factors

Universal Methods:

• Model/Teach• Create Opportunities to

Practice Desired Behavior• Adapt Skill to Real Life

Teaching Tools

Second StepCharacter educationMini societiesSmall group social skillsOne to one instructionPeer modelingTherapyRole model (teacher)Role playGamesArt projectsResearch projects

If Your Own Efforts FAIL—THE SST PROCESS

A. Refer student to SST1. Complete the Request for Intervention Assistance form2. Collect data on PBS 2 and 3 data sheets

B. First SST MeetingReview Data on PBS 3 and Summarize on PBS 4

C. Review target behavior1. Limit the number of target behaviors2. Remember behavior may regress initially.