How teachers can help kids become experts at being safe
Dear Kid Whisperer: I teach at an alternative school, where most students have been unable to be successful at their assigned public school and most students have at least one behavior goal in their Individualized Education Plan. I have received your training and read your book. They both have helped tremendously. Things are going well in my classroom overall, except with one student. He has threatened to punch me multiple times. As you have taught me, I delayed the learning opportunity (consequence). The problem is that he refuses to do the Delayed Learning Opportunity. What do I do now?
Dear Reader: In the previous columns, I addressed the need for a paradigm shift before answering this question. We need to stop thinking of the refusal to do the Delayed Learning Opportunity as a negative. This kid just needs to learn that belligerence and refusing a reasonable request from an adult authority figure does not get them out of trouble and does not get them what they want.
In the last column I gave you a problem-solving DLO. This one involves the student practicing the required positive behavior.
Let’s start with delaying the learning opportunity, just like we did last time.
Kid: I will punch you right in your stupid, ugly face.
Kid Whisperer: Oh, man.
This is rough. I’m going to help you do some learning later.
Then, later, perhaps after a suspension due to school policies, or due to the fact that you need a break from the student, or due to other factors, during a non-instructional time, I would have this conversation.
Kid Whisperer: Yikes. Do you remember when you threatened to punch me the other day? Yikes! I’m not mad at you. We just require that everyone is an expert at not punching people. I, for example, am an expert at this. So, I’m just going to have you practice not punching me.
Kid: Surely you jest.
Kid Whisperer: How long will it take you to become an expert at not threatening to punch people? Do you need to practice not threatening to punch people for one hour or two hours?
Kid: How about no hours?
Kid Whisperer: Two hours is fine.
Kid: No! Wait!
Kid Whisperer: We’ll be doing this during every lunch and recess and during the non-academic assembly on Friday if we need it. We’ll get you a lunch, of course. Your dad says that we can also use after school next week if it comes to that. I’ll count good practice minutes as all minutes where you are calm, seated and not threatening to punch me. This isn’t some kind of mean punishment: You can draw or read, or do whatever, as long as you aren’t sleeping, because you can’t sleep and practice not threatening to punch me at the same time.
Once the two hours are up, here’s what I say.
Kid Whisperer: Dude! You did not threaten to punch me once in two hours! Are you an expert at not threatening people?
Kid: I clearly am an expert!
Kid Whisperer: Sweet! Get out of here! Have a great recess. All of this stuff is over! You are an expert at this part of being an awesome person. I’m proud of you! What are you still doing here? Go enjoy your life!
In this way, we can strengthen our relationship with Kid through and because of his negative behavior, while simultaneously training him to use positive, pro-social behaviors that will give him a better chance of becoming a happy, healthy person.