Spring 2011 Non-compliant behavior

I am currently working in a 2^nd grade class which has significant challenges. Because of the dynamics of the school and budget cuts, student who had previously attended alternative programs and resource have been placed back into the (my) regular classroom. These students struggle significantly with the curriculum, staying on task, and behaviorally. There is one student, in particular, who has been having a difficult time. She not only is very far behind the others academically, she is also accustomed to having a “little more leash” than what she is allowed in the standard classroom. Additionally, though she tries, she cannot demand the attention she is accustomed to from the teacher. On several occasions, I have witnessed the consequences of this clash of culture and personality. The system has been, to give this student 3 gentle commands. Upon the disregard of the 3^rd, an instant message is sent to have her removed from the classroom for defiant behavior. When this student sees the individual who comes to remove her at the door, all Hades brakes loose. She begins to yell and scream that she is not going to go. The situation generally escalates to the point where she has to be removed physically from the classroom, kicking and screaming as she goes. Once she is out if the classroom it is not over. Her screams can be heard out side the door. She hollers, “You’re a big fat jerk. I hate you. I am not going to go.” Sometimes she lies down outside the door and kicks and kicks it. Needless to say it is a very big disturbance to the classroom. Lately, things have improved a little. Her coach has been working with her a lot. She has found that by setting a timer after instruction has been given it helps her to engage the project, stay on task, and remind her that a ending is coming and when it has arrived. In many cases, the behavior would begin to spiral out of control in a transition. It has helped to give this student some expectations as to what she needs to accomplish and in what time. It definitely in not the panacea of behavioral managing techniques, but it has made things better.