Using a Checklist & Self Evaluation to Avoid Behavioral Difficulties

Since the inception of this blog, we have explored a variety of specific strategies. I encourage all educators and parents to be creative, and mix and match to best meet the individual needs of your child and/or student. In a previous blog, we learned that mini-maps can help to prevent behavioral difficulties related to academic tasks.

Often, teachers note that a common antecedent or trigger to behavioral difficulties is the presentation of academic tasks.

The behaviors can range from a verbal protest to a meltdown when students feel overwhelmed by school work. The first question to ask, of course, is what is there about the work that makes the student feel so overwhelmed? Does the page look too busy? Is too much handwriting involved? Are there too many problems? Is it too difficult or too easy?

The schedule says it is time for math. The student struggles consistently with math and typically puts his head down and produces little or no work. But with a mini-map, the student feels more able to get started and move forward.

The mini-map is often a small checklist and can be decorated with a student’s interest to increase focus and motivation. This checklist then breaks down the expectations during math into smaller chunks. The mini-map or checklist might say something like this:

1. Warm up activity      ______
2. Test Review                ______
3. Do problems 3-10     ______
4. Discuss with partner______

               Next: 5 minute break

This mini-map often reduces the anxiety associated with challenging academics so that the student is more likely to get started and even more likely to continue.

This is especially true if there is a motivator at the end of the work. Try it and see if there is some progress in dealing with work avoidance.

Example:

And in another blog, we discussed the benefits of self-evaluation.

Why not combine these two effective strategies to further strengthen independence in a variety of settings. It might look something like this.

What innovative combination of strategies might you create to better meet the needs of an individual with an autism spectrum disorder?

by Lisa Rogers