Hope - Behavior challenges

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Hi Hope!

I work in a full inclusion public elementary school. My son attends the same school and is now in 4th grade. We use small PECS communication boards with all our kids who have transitioning issues. On the board are small pictures of each child's daily schedule. Each time the child transitions to a new class or activity the child pulls off the activity pictures from one side of the board and then places it on the "completed" side of the board. Nothing fancy. Hand made clip art. Very simple but very effective. The para will hang on to the board after the transition is complete.

It is also important that each child be given a verbal/visual cue that there is about to be a transition. 10 minutes before it's time to move on they get a visual and a verbal cue, "5 minutes, 3 minutes, 1 minute, o.k. time to go to ............" .

We also have classmate buddy volunteers who go scoop up our kids. Sometimes it is less of a "nagging" situation if your peers are telling you to come along instead of an adult.

As a last resort we bring a transition object. My son liked to hold transition items. If it was a transition to computer class he would be given a mouse to carry to class. If it was music an item would be given to Freddie so he could deliver it to the music teacher. If it was PE or recess he would carry a ball, etc.... We get very creative.

Line leader can be effective too. I know teachers who place their kids at the front of the line and thank them for being such a good model for the other kids. They stop the rest of the Class and make all look to see how well the student is modeling.

It is something that we see fade after the child gets used to the schedule, the PECS system or the transition object. My son used all of these "tricks" in K through 2nd. Now in fourth he really depends on the 5 to 10 minute heads up from an adult. He has quite a few Friends that hang with him at recess and lunch now, so when they go he goes.

Some younger kids just don't do well with transitions. Decide which battles to fight. LOL!

Hope this helps!

nnaMommy to Freddie 10yrsFull Inclusion - 4th Grade!"We can change the world one classroom at a time" - Gail on

Subject: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] behavior challengesTo: DownSyndromeInfoExchange Date: Thursday, January 12, 2012, 12:21 PM

’s teacher is reporting that she is refusing to leave the playground with her class. The teacher is having to go and physically get her. It seems that I remember this being discussed somewhere and some suggestions for managing it. Has anyone dealt with this or have reference to helpful articles? Thanks!Hope------------------------------------1. Anything suggested on this site or opinions offered are not intended to be medical or pharmaceutical advice or otherwise take the place of your physicians orders, nor to diagnose or treat your specific health problems. Please discuss all methods of treatment with your practitioner. 2 *****WARNING: Flames and inappropriate treatment of other members on this list will NOT be tolerated.3. Our HOME page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DownSyndromeInfoExchange where all archived posts as well as photos,links, files, articles etc. are found. You "MUST" have a Yahoo ID and pass word to enter it.To contact Kathy, owner & moderatorkathy_r@...To contact , owner & moderatornoliptoday@...