Build student rapport: Communicate with students about their likes and dislikes and engage in friendly conversation to develop a safe classroom environment.

Talk aloud: Model how to express emotions and opinions by talking out loud during situations that call for this skill. Verbalize these actions to provide an example for the students.

List: Work with students to create a list of appropriate responses to different feelings or situations that call for an opinion. Allow students to keep the list to refer to during activities.

Provide scripts: Create and provide scripts for different situations in which students would need to express their feelings or opinions. For example, in a group setting, they may get frustrated that no one is listening to what they are saying or no one is letting them have a turn. Provide a script to help students express this to their peers.

Use of tactile stress relievers: Provide students with an item to help them stay focused, relieve stress, or cope. Items may include balls, sand, water, velvet, satin, koosh balls, velcro, etc

Role play: Give students scenarios and act out appropriate ways of expression. Include common scenarios where this skill would be needed throughout the scope.

Nonverbal signals: Create a set of nonverbals signals to help students express their emotions when they are unable to come up with an appropriate response. This will allow for student expression, even if it is not verbal.

For more resources, visit:  http://www.pbisworld.com/