Recognising triggers and trying to address or remove them does not always work. If things escalate the next step is to defuse. What is most important now is for you not to do or say anything that will make the situation worse.
DEFUSE
D - Don’t lose your cool. De-personalise.
E - Empathise. Allow the student to have his/her say.
F - Find out the facts.
U - Understand feelings.
S - Suggest solutions. Suspend EGO (thinking about oneself and self-importance).
E - End on a positive note.
Widger (2002)
Strategies:
AVOID:
moving in on the student
making demands and threats
shouting at the student and engaging the student in a verbal battle of wills
moving around unnecessarily
pointing, staring at, crowding or standing over the student
power struggles and win at all costs outcomes.
DO:
maintain calm
respect the student
detach i.e. don't take things personally
keep a reasonable distance from the student or move slowly and deliberately towards the student if proximity is necessary
speak calmly
speak privately to the student if possible
speak politely to the student and avoid harsh words and angry tones
if possible, position yourself at eye-level with the student
be brief in your statements, directions etc. don’t try to use your verbal capacity to get the better of the student.
remain focused on the specific behaviour problem, not related problems or the student’s history of behaviour problems
acknowledge any signs of cooperation
if the behaviour escalates further, withdraw and follow established emergency procedures if necessary
continue to monitor the student until help arrives.
If the above does not have the desired effect and the behaviour becomes out of control and may affect the safety of teachers and students eg physical aggression, destruction of property, self-abuse: including hitting, hair-pulling, head banging, scratching etc, severe tantrums, hyperventilation, running out of the room. The class teacher cannot deal with this behaviour alone. Ensure you have called for support and back up from a neighbouring teacher, Deputy Principal and/or Principal.
Reference links.