Working with Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities

I'm currently reading an article called "Prove Them Wrong: Be There for Secondary Students with an Emotional or Behavioral Disability".  I LOVE being a teacher and I LOVE working with all students... general education, special education, preschool, high school... I don't care I just love to teach.  This article talks about my favorite population of children though, those with emotional disabilities.

The article starts by discussing how much these children have gone through in their short lives.  The majority of these kids have been through quite a lot.  Many children have been abused, move constantly, or have had loved ones turn their back on them.  The most important thing in interacting with these students is to develop a strong relationship with them.  The more you know them, the easier it is to get them to follow directions,  motivate them, and make a difference.  It's important that educators constantly read the student's body language and respond appropriately.  They need to listen to what they are saying and what they are not saying.  Teachers really need to care and show that they care.

Secondly, it's important that teachers carry themselves with confidence around these students.  Time and time again I have seen educators frustrated when a student won't follow directions yet their body language is telling the student that they're scared of them and don't think they'll listen.  Be confident, build a relationship, and you can change their behavior!  Teachers really have no need to be scared, in most cases, when they hear they are getting a student with ED/BD.  Relationships and confidence is all you need for appropriate behavior management!