Adjustment Disorder

Teaching Strategies

• Seat pupils with a settled peer or calming influences

• Agree a calm area or safe haven

• Short, chunked tasks

• Rest breaks

• Opportunities to move around where possible

• Low key tasks for anxiety or stress

• Anticipate emotional turbulence and act beforehand

• Set tasks with clear goals and expectations

• Clear and consistent routines

• Model behavioural skills and talk through negative behaviour after it happens

• Label the behaviour - not the pupil

• Calm but firm and fair approach

• Element of choice in tasks

• Use positive adult language at all times

• Use signals for when a pupil becomes agitated

• Catch the pupil being good

• Praise often

• Use humour to settle

• Avoid sarcasm

• Planned reward systems

• Access to ICT when appropriate

• Modelling

• Visual aids

• Writing frames and prompts

• Build confidence and self esteem gradually

• Build a positive relationship built upon mutual respect and trust

• Share a common belief that they can achieve

• Listen actively without enforcing your own opinions

• Ensure the pupil knows that they are valued

• Support organisation

• Use an LSA to model good behaviours with pupils