Preventing & Addressing Defiant, Oppositional, Resistent Behavior


Matching Activity Directions: Familiarize yourself with the interventions described below.  Then read the situations that follow.  Match the strategies (prefaced with numbers) with the situations (prefaced with letters).

1. Proactive cooperation- obtain cooperation before asking the student to do the task that might result in non-compliance.

2. Provide limited choices- give students power in situations by allowing them to select from responses acceptable to you.

3. Ripple effect- promote imitation of positive behavior by reinforcing compliant and on-task students.  If the student still is not engaging in the desired activity, prompt him/her with a question (e.g., "Peter, are you cleaning up too?"  "Hey Rhonda.  What should you be doing right now?")

4. Humorous warning- use a good natured "cute" remark to remind students to display appropriate behavior.

5. Appeal to desire to be "grown-up"- motivate the student by mentioning how s/he will display the proper behavior when s/he matures.

6. Reminiscing/Appeal to good side- talk with the student about when effort or the desired behavior was previously demonstrated. Encourage re-enactment. .

7. Surprise- act in an unexpected manner to interrupt the student's control over a situation.

8. Agreement- utter a statement corresponding to the student's commentary.

9. Distraction from head-butting- draw the student's focus of attention from the argument.

10  Direct & Redirect- if the student is begrudgingly compliant, engage him/her in a preferred activity before returning to the present task.

11. Do it dammit! (With apology)- sternly order compliance, then apologize for your actions and discuss the situation.
 




 
 
 

a) A teacher tells her students to take out their math workbooks.   Juan looks very tense and potentially explosive.  The teacher asks him to do her a favor by delivering a note to another teacher.

b) "You may not bring a walkman radio on the field trip, but its OK to bring your hats and sunglasses."

c) (Said in a supportive manner) "Someday, you'll do like older girls and make sure that your coat is off the floor, not dragging behind you."

d) "Walk!" (Students stop) "Sorry for yelling guys, but I saw that wet floor sign ahead of you.  By the way, what's the rule on traveling in the hallway?"

e) Chad says to Miss Fitzsimmons "Your hair looks messy."  Miss F. retorts "Yeah, I just combed it with a cake mixer."

f) Daisy is having difficulty motivating herself to begin a task.   The teacher shows her previous worksheets from her work folder and reminds her how much effort she has exerted in the past.  He then encourages her to show that effort again.

g) Latisha refuses to put on her coat to go home.  Ms. Tsai asks her to help with the end-of-day cleanup. They talk and then both don their coats to head home.

h) Seven year old Jessica, wearing a skirt, turns  to speak with a classmate in such a way that her legs split apart  revealing her underwear. Miss. Rodriguez says "Jessica, remember to sit like a big girl."

i) "Nope, the marker's ink will ooze through the paper. However, you can use pencils, pens or crayons."

j) At times, the nature of group activities in Ms. Rashad's class results in noisy behavior.  She frequently brings the students' attention back to her by blowing whistles, kicking the radiator, ringing an old school bell, making animal noises, dancing about the room, etc.

k) Mr. Condino turns and growls at ontask students.  They smile and get back to work.

1) Two boys are arguing. Mr. Park says "Gentlemen, is your math assignment complete?"   Both indicate that it is done.  Mr. Park then directs them to work on their homework.

m) Knowing that the students will not want to end their present activities, Mr. Silvercloud starts a game of "Simon says" (no one is eliminated for "goofing up") in which the students enthusiastically join in. The last command is "Simon says clean up."

n) "Maritza, you've earned all you points for the last three days.  I know you can do it again today."

o) (To a student out of his seat) . "Kong Ting, have you noticed how the older boys in our class sit in their seats unless they receive permission to get up?  I know you can do it too."

p) (Most of the class is noisy and rambunctious) "Everybody sit down Now!"  (Students sit and appear anxious until Mrs. Hijazi apologizes for yelling and discusses ways to prevent both their noisy behavior and her yelling.)

q) Students are on line for lunch.  Ms. Sajdak compliments the line leader on how straight and quiet he is standing.  The rest of the line also straightens up.

r) Tasha yells out an answer. Mr. Stein says "Tasha, you don't have to raise your hand, but you must raise your elbow."
 

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