How do we accommodate students with an EBD?
According to Positive Action, there are several ways to support students who have an EBD in the classroom. The first is giving the student as many opportunities to make their own choices as possible. For example, when students are to choose an activity to do during free time you can give them a select few choices to do such as read, color-by-number, or work on math problems. Another is called mnemonic instruction, this makes it easier for the student to learn and retain information. The example given in the article was using visual cues to concepts such as a hand signal, the signal they used was having the teacher wiggle their hands over their head every time they said the word "imagination." Altering tasks for students with an EBD is also a good idea. You may need to break tasks into smaller parts so the student does not get overwhelmed with a larger assignment. Ensuring your student knows that the school/classroom is a safe place for them is crucial so that they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and are able to be themselves (9 Effective Teaching Strategies for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders).
What are other ways to modify the classroom for a student with an EBD?
Other easy ways to accommodate students with an EBD include emotion check-ins, movement breaks, visuals, calm-down spaces, and daily feedback. Emotion check-ins are when you ask them how they are feeling throughout the day, this can be done as little as at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day or as often as needed. Movement breaks also give them a way to release energy that may build up throughout the day. Using visuals as often as possible will help them remember expectations for academics as well as socially. Having a calm-down space in the classroom is helpful for any student in the class, this gives them a comfortable space to express their emotions, give themselves a break, and calm themselves. Giving a student with an EBD daily feedback helps the student be aware of their behavior throughout the day and gives them things to work on in the following days (pathway2success).
References
pathway2success. “Executive Functioning Accommodations for Emotions and Behavior.” The Pathway 2 Success, 20 Sept. 2022, www.thepathway2success.com/executive-functioning-accommodations-for-emotions-and-behavior/.
Positive Action Staff. “9 Effective Teaching Strategies for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders.” 9 Effective Teaching Strategies for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 19 Sept. 2023, www.positiveaction.net/blog/teaching-strategies-for-emotional-and-behavioral-disorders.