Helping students learn to deal with their frustration

Dealing with Frustration

1.    Identify someone they can talk and confide in

2.    Gently correct them and use redirection

·        Remind the student what they should be doing

3.    Direct instruction for dealing with stress, tension, frustration, or anxiety

·        Teach student how to identify when getting tense and how they are feeling overall

·        Student should practice calming strategies throughout the day when not feeling that way

4.    Have both teacher and student develop an unobstrusive signal for when starting to feel or show signs of frustration so they can practice strategies

5.    Teach student to use positive talk: switch negative statement to positive

6.    Structure academic success for the student

Interventions for students with sensory needs

Sensory Strategies

·        Allow children to work in a variety of positions; laying flat on the floor propped on elbows, standing at a table or easel, or lying on side and using a clipboard to write on

·        Ask child to repeat directions back to you before they start their work to ensure they understand

·        Have child do "chair pushups" (raising their body off the chair with hands next to them on their seat) and/or tie Thera-Band around their chair and have them stretch it using their legs while doing desk work

·        10 wall pushups, 10 jumping jacks, get up and run around desk 3 times

·        Frequently scheduled breaks: these must be predictable

·        Tactile interventions: fidget box filled with small manipulatives that kids can fiddle with

·        Reduce the number of problems on a page: decrease anxiety this way

·        Make sure the student is up and moving every 20 -30 minutes

·         Heavy work: Help rearrange desks in the classroom, Open and hold doors for the students in the class.