A number of professional development experts and studies have shown that special education teachers need training and support to make the best choices in how to intervene when problems occur in the classroom. Recent news stories have highlighted injuries that have occurred as a result of inadequate training and preparation.
Not all interventions are made as a result of behavior problems. Other interventions are necessary when instructors see or hear signals of emotional distress or see signs the student may be enduring physical, emotional or other types of abuse. The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) offers a number of excellent training options for teachers that also may qualify for Continuing Education (CE) credit.
Behavior Problems: Intervention Strategies
Focusing on research-based interventions, this course offered by NASET covers strategies that show promise in helping students with a history of problem behavior in and outside the classroom. The course provides an overview of interventions that have been researched and proven effective for students which have disabilities as well as those which have not been diagnosed or received any type of Individual Education Plan (IEP) or other assessment.
Emotional Disturbance-Related Training
Emotional disturbance is a broad term which has many different connotations. NASET offers a course in understanding the basic terminology related to a variety of specific conditions, including emotional, behavioral and mental disorders. A further specialized course helps to familiarize teachers with the criteria and process used to determine whether or not a student with an emotional disturbance is qualified for special education. The step by step course helps teachers to understand the process of diagnosis and what to do at each step.
High Risk Students
Learning how to identify and assist high-risk students can help to prevent or reduce problems in the classroom. NASET says that teachers can often not help “but see, hear about or uncover” a child who is at-risk of a serious physical, emotional or other long-lasting problem. The training helps teachers to identify red flags and signs or symptoms that students could be in high-risk situations such as hidden disabilities, undiagnosed illnesses, or abuse in the home.
Response to Intervention (RTI) Training
Full-day workshops offered by Intervention Central focus on the RTI model, which is a proactive approach to intervening and reducing problems related to high-risk students. Separate courses are offered for elementary, middle and high schools, as well as school-based problem-solving teams. Other workshops help classroom instructors use data to monitor student academic and social progress and provide timely interventions.
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention
The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) offers three different types of training to help teachers and others deal effectively with hostile, anxious or violent behavior that could lead to injuries. The training is able to be adapted to special needs class environments, but it has also proven effective in other areas, such as working with patients with dementia who can be prone to striking out when fearful or in pain. The goal of the training is to reduce injuries and risk, and promote care, welfare, safety and security. One, two, and four day courses are offered.
You may be fortunate to never need to undertake an intervention in your special education classroom, but this is very unlikely. Many students with special needs may be high-risk in other ways, and students who are experiencing physical pain or other frustrating disabilities can lash out, often without meaning to harm anyone. Research-based training is available through NASET and other industry experts.
