Tuesday Tip – Changing Inappropriate Behaviors

Learning style differences affect how much the student learns and how rapidly he learns. In order to teach effective skills to replace inappropriate behaviors we must make sure we are teaching those skills in the ways that student learns best.  That means giving him information using the forms of communication he understands best.

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Tuesday Tip – Strengths & Weaknesses Affect Behavior

Learning strengths or weaknesses can affect student behavior.  Consider these: Intellectual ability, memory skills, level of distractibility, ability to express want and needs, and how the student is able to understand the communication in the environment.

Many times the root of problem behaviors can be the result of not understanding.  There are many reasons a student may not understand.  Perhaps he:
1) doesn’t understand the vocabulary
2) doesn’t remember what you told him
3) is paying attention to something else and only hears part of your message.

The list can go on.  Focusing on discovering the CAUSE of the behavior problem will yield strategies for positive long term changes.

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Tuesday Tip – What is Learned Dependency?

When we teach skills and routines in ways that require our prompting to be a part of the routine, that student will be dependent on our prompting – forever.  Students may learn that our prompt is a form of “turn-taking” that becomes integrated into the learned routine.  What the student learns to do is take a turn by performing one step of the routine and then wait until we take our turn of prompting them before they perform the next step of the routine. Visual tools can become prompts for students so that other people don’t become a necessary part of successfully completing a routine.

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Tuesday Tip – Discovering Sensory Needs

Sorting out behaviors caused by sensory needs is a complicated task.  Working with an Occupational Therapist or other professional who is knowledgeable about the sensory needs of this population is critical for thoroughly understanding the unique profile of an individual student.  When you understand what sensory input the student desires and rejects you will be better able to plan a successful program for him or her.

For more tips visit http://AutismFamilyOnline.com