1. Working Effectively with Students with Emotional, Behavioral, and Social Challenges in the Classroom In Five Easy Steps
John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D. johnsommersflanagan.com

2. Intro Let’s Get Straight on Several Things Screwed up . . .
Support, pay, criticize, class size
If I were running for public office: Econ, Env, Just
Your SCs asked me hahaha
Three days later . . .
But reality is what it is and so we have
One hour

3. Workshop Overview
Focus in on what it takes to work effectively with challenging students (and parents)
We’ll cover:
Some stories
Two big models that might help
Specific strategies and techniques
What to do when nothing is working
Caveats and excuses

4. What We Need Today
Openness to Learning
Commitment to being Respectful

5. And Remember This is YOUR workshop
Your input and comments are welcome, not mandatory

6. Step 1 – Use Your Common Wisdom
The Portland VA Hospital – 1984
Use your personal wisdom and common relationship sense
Avoid backing people into corners
Avoid being too bossy or insulting
Avoid telling people they’re being stupid or silly
Let others be RIGHT sometimes
And do your best to NOT live by the Satanic Golden Rule

7. Step 2 – Focus on Your Goals
Eight Warts
We must focus LIKE A LASER on our goals and amazing things can happen

8. Children Need Great Teachers

9. Yep: Even Angry and Defiant Teens

10. Why Teens Misbehave Hungry, tired, sick Attention Power and control
Revenge (anger)
To display inadequacy
What Two Things Do Students Need to Mitigate these Problems?
To belong
To feel useful and important

11. Instant Reflection What did I do to start our time together today?
How did it feel?
The whole point was to communicate to you that
I VALUE YOU . . .
YOU BELONG HERE . . .
YOU ARE VERY IMPORTANT . . .

12. Step 3 – Work to Help Your Students Experience Belonging and Usefulness
Find your own way to start every day with a communication to your students
I VALUE YOU . . .
YOU BELONG HERE . . .
YOU ARE VERY IMPORTANT . . .
And repeat this throughout the day
With every bit of genuineness you can muster

13. It’s natural—BUT NOT HELPFUL—to ignore desirable or positive behaviors
Step 4 – Avoid Backward Behavior Modification: Use Passionate Rewards and Boring Consequences
It’s natural—BUT NOT HELPFUL—to pay too much attention to undesirable behaviors
It’s natural—BUT NOT HELPFUL—to ignore desirable or positive behaviors
The Solution
Use passionate rewards and boring consequences
Bulging veins story

14. Step 5 – Know Strategies to Influence
Direct Power
Indirect Power
Problem-Solving Power
Relationship Power

15. Direct Power MBI Use Grandma’s Rule – “When you, then you”
Use Compassionate or Empathic Limit-Setting (do this calmly)
Give a choice: You can sit down or go see the principal – you choose.
Set the limit – By asking the student: “What will happen if . . .?”
Set the limit – By stating it yourself

16. Indirect Power
Use radical validation: “Of course you’re angry. This is the kind of situation that could make anyone angry.” And show empathy or acknowledge the feelings: “This situation is clearly very upsetting to you.”
Use character feedback
Use the seven magic Choice Theory words

17. The Seven Magic CT Words
Sometimes you need to lay down the law
But if you do that too much, or have a strong-willed student, you may elicit resistance
Try using these words: I want you but it’s your choice
You can use way more than seven words
And they’re not really magic, but “I want you” is very powerful

18. Problem-Solving Power
What do you want?
What are you doing?
How is it working?
Should you make a new plan?
You have to follow the rules, but how can we work this out?
What do you need to do to be successful today?
Encourage positive outcomes: “I think you can succeed with this.”

19. Relationship Power
Give messages of belonging and being useful and caring
Show yourself as compassionate and committed
Create a respect bubble

20. Step 6 – Make a Plan Math book story
Whispering and plans (be proactive)

21. Summary
Step 1: Use your common wisdom Step 2: Focus like a laser on your goals Step 3: Work to help your students experience belonging and usefulness Step 4: Avoid backward behavior modification: use passionate rewards and boring consequences Step 5: Know strategies to influence Step 6: Make a plan

22. Concluding Comments And if nothing works??
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood”
What will you remember?
What strategies could you start using right away?

23. For Free Tip Sheets and Other Cool Stuff go to:
johnsommersflanagan.com
And be sure to watch (and listen) for the Montana Parenting Podcast Project Which will hit the internet in a couple weeks