Intervention Guide - Response Inhibition

Response inhibition (aka impulse control) is a student's "stop and think" skills or internal "pause button."
You can anticipate impulsive behavior by tuning into warning signs.
- External warning signs: time of day, situation, context, type of task, specific class, presence of a specific peer, etc.
- Internal warning signs: student has an unmet need
  - Emotional
  - Sensory (does the student need to move?)
  - Relational (does the student feel connected?)
    - This is often a good place to start. Students often improve impulse control when they have a strong relationship with the teacher.

Try:

Model it! Share your "stop and think" thoughts out loud.
Teach a replacement behavior: teach the student an incompatible behavior, meaning this new behavior cannot be done at the same time as the problem behavior. For example, you cannot blurt out while you are taking deep breaths.

Mindfulness: use mindfulness strategies to lengthen the time between stimulus and response - help the student use their internal pause button!
Strive for a 5:1 ratio of positive to correct feedback.

Other Quick Tips:

Many students with impulsivity rush to begin their work before reading or listening to instructions. The student can be asked to read the instructions out loud for classmates or asked to underline all instructions while they are being read.
Some students with impulsivity do not check their work for accuracy. In this case, visit the Pre-Submission Checkpoint page.
Encouraging a student to raise their hand, and praising them for doing so, may help to decrease impulsive statements during whole group instruction.

Adapted from Dr. Rebecca Branstetter - Thriving School Psychologist