QUESTION:
I have an ADHD student in my class who takes up at least a third of my time.I’m not sure if this would be part of the DwStress approach, but I have decided that from now on he will go to the In-School Discipline Room whenever he is disrupting my class. I feel that the essays and self-referrals are not working and that the best thing for the rest of my students is to get this child out of the room when he is disruptive.
DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE:
EXACTLY! It is simply not fair to other students or parents to allow this student to disrupt everyone else’s learning. His staying in your class is CONTINGENT upon his acting on Level C.
Here is a suggestion of how to handle this situation:
Let him know that you only have students in your class who want to be VICTORS. He is being a VICTIM because he allows his impulses to direct him. Let him know that you want to help him. Figure out a procedure he can rely on when his impulses take over.
You may need to make some suggestions–but it’s better if the procedure comes from him. Have him practice the procedure by imagining different situations when his impulses might take over. Ask him to explain how he could redirect impulses in each situation using his new procedure.
When he acts out, take a post-it or an Impulse Card and put it on his desk so it is plainly visible to him. Let him know that this is his “victim awareness notification”.
Inform him that if he acts on Levels A or B again, he is letting his impulses direct him, that he is allowing himself to be a victim, and that he will be allowed back in the classroom when he can demonstrate better behavior. Then send him to a supervised area of the school such as a detention room, a discipline room or the office.
If he comes back later in the day, ask him what procedure he is planning to use to avoid being a victim again.
Repeat this process as often as necessary–even if it is daily.
Always encourage him: “I know you can do it, but it is your choice to decide. To be a member of this classroom you cannot take time away from other students’ learning through anarchy and bullying.It’s not acceptable. I’d like you to stay, but the choice is yours.”
Persevere and be prepared to repeat this many times–always letting him know that you would like him to stay, but HE makes that decision.
Your message to him is that you simply do not believe he cannot act on Level C.