Managing the Chaos...

Are you a chaos coordinator or a behavior management rockstar?

You are a superhero. You are a mentor. You are a role model. You are a nurse. You are a teacher. But you can't do it all... or can you? Autism classrooms are HARD. Behavior support classrooms are HARD. Teaching in general is hard. And no matter what setting and classroom you find yourself in "controlling" your class is always something you are thinking about. But it is definitely easier said than done. So with 4 months in the books, how do you comeback and start fresh in the new year? How do you get control back from your kiddos and maintain it?

So as dark as the Joker is what he says makes sense. And when you think about it.... can you see it in your classroom? Did a particular situation come to mind? Did a particular student come to mind? How easy is it for one student or one situation to disrupt the norm.. or add a little anarchy... to upset the established order? And once that established order is disrupted how fast does chaos hit? And how do you avoid that?

It all comes down to being proactive, being systematic, and having a plan. And having a plan for when your established order is upset. AND having a plan for when it all becomes chaos. Even if your first 4 months were chaos or if you just want to establish new norms and order in your classroom there are easy ways to help you earn control of your classroom and earn control from your students.

I'm a systematic person... I work in systems. I work in plans and programming. I work in proactive strategies. I always wondered how teachers survived without planning every second of every day like I did. And then I realized, they didn't. The ones without systems and plans are the ones who are running around the room putting out fires, especially those in behavior classrooms or autism classrooms. And extinguishing fires isn't nearly as effective as avoiding fires altogether. Extinguishing fire also doesn't teach your students how to be successful in class or in life.

How to manage the chaos... better yet, how to avoid the chaos and maintain order. Y'all I have been there. As a new teacher and a not so new teacher... I have sat at my desk (or wherever) and thought "this can't be it?" The thoughts that the chaos can't be where it ends. The thoughts that it has too be easier than this. The thoughts that every day doesn't have to end (or even start) in a meltdown or aggression. The thoughts that I just don't belong in this field. And let me tell you... you're wrong. You can do this. It is easier. It doesn't have to be that way each and every day. Every day doesn't need to start and end with meltdowns (or my personal favorite classroom meltdowns). You belong. One thing I learned early on is that is much "easier" to be proactive than to be reactive. It is no use trying to put out fires every day... a new one will just keep popping up unless you are proactive and teach the skills needed to be successful. Now planning isn't easy. It is a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of brain power and hours.... and lots of CHANGES! Just ask Mrs. M she will tell you...I'm not one to shy away from change. I probably drove her crazier than I did the kids each time I changed the classroom setup or the schedule. You know the old saying "if it's not broken don't fix it".... it's true but don't forget that if it IS broken... DO fix it! And keep fixing it until it works. Changing behavior takes time and hard work. And changes... lots of changes. Consistency and implementing behavior strategies is key but if the data shows that it isn't working than FIX IT! So in the midst of the chaos and fires don't forget you can always change it. If you are exhausted from the chaos and fires put in a little extra effort upfront, change the environment, and avoid the chaos and fires. Be an environmental manipulator.

Moving forward... what small changes (or big) can be made to manipulate your classroom environment in a way to keep the chaos at bay... to set the kiddos up for success and teach the skills needed or success in life?

Here are my top 5 tips to manage (and inevitably control) the chaos

1. Arrange the classroom for success.

Be intentional with the placement of every table, desk, bookshelf, and chair. Each area of your classroom should have a purpose and that purpose should not only be known by you but by your staff and students as well. Each area of your classroom should be set up to teach desired skills.

My must haves for autism and behavior support classrooms include group table, group area near board, technology center, break center, calm down area, area for reinforcers (if not technology), reading area, teacher area, IA instruction area, student belongs (arrival/departure) area, waiting area, and independent work area. And then if necessary individual desk areas for whole class or specific students who need their own space.

Be intentional about what goes in each area. Each instructional area should already have needed items such as pencils, crayons, markers, dry erase boards, dry erase markers, erasers, glue sticks, tokens, tissues, hand sanitizer, etc., etc., etc. There should be no need to run across the room to grab an item. Because the second you run across the room to grab an item that could have been easily stored in your area you have lost the students (mentally or physically.... think of all those runners).

Each day the same things should happen in the same areas so the expectations are known but also so that you can be organized and ready for each center and rotation. Take a few hours after school one day and be truly intentional about what you need at each center in your classroom, get organized... you'll thank me later. I'm going to go ahead and say it... organization is key.

2. Control all materials.

This goes along with organization but takes it a few steps farther. Yes, we want our students to be as independent as possible. However, we also need to elicit communication and social skills so keep materials in areas where students will have to request needed items to complete tasks. Have bins and storage drawers behind your group table. Have bins and baskets near your Smartboard for morning meetings and circle time. All materials should be where you use it. In each area of my classroom, I had bins with all the necessities like tokens, dry erase markers, erasers, fidgets, and timers.

And more importantly you need to be in control of all the good things in the students day. You are the good things and they know you have the good things (remember instructional control😉). All reinforcers, rewards, and break items are in your control. Students only get access to what they want when you or your staff give them access. Too many times I see students grabbing items or refusing to give up items... that shows me one thing; students are in control which means the teacher is not.

I kept tupperware in business. I had large bins, medium bins, small bins, milk crates, pencil boxes, and the list goes on. I had the works. Everything had it's place and adults were in charge of all things. And when students were done with materials they cleaned up and the materials went back where they belonged. It kept the classroom clean and organized and better yet taught the students vital life skills. They learned to be responsible for classroom materials, how to be organized, and to clean up after themselves. Don't get me wrong, it took extra effort upfront to teach the students those skills but in a few months it made life easier and the students were more independent which is after all our main goal.

3. Get organized.

I know I said it under #1 (and #2 if we're being honest... which we always are) but I'm going to say it again and with a little more detail. It would be a lie if I said I was always organized, cause I definitely wasn't. That was my sister. I was was the complete opposite... and some would say I still am not the most organized. Ask my husband... he still can't believe that I am hyper organized at work and in classrooms (teacher friends have tried to tell him but he just can't seem to wrap his head around the idea).

I learned the hard way. I was the teacher running around like crazy trying to find materials not sure what was coming next. I thought I had a decent working classroom schedule but it was a failure. It took someone coming in to my classroom to tell me I can change it. So I did. And then I changed it again. And as the year went on I became more and more organized. And now it is one of my passions... getting teachers organized and teaching students how to be organized.

Our students are coming to us with deficits in executive functioning, especially planning and organization. So how are we to teach these students these vital life skills if our classrooms are lacking them? Not saying everyone needs to turn Type A but sometimes you have to suck it up for your kids and do things that aren't the easiest for you. I'm not type A... I'm actually not sure what type I actually fit in. But I got organized. And then hyper-organized. And I'm never looking back. It made life for me sooooo much easier, and even better it made my kiddos lives even easier.

Each student had their own area to organize their materials. They had a cubby, a shelf, and a milk crate. All color coded and labeled with their names and/or pictures.

Each student had a binder with all things needed throughout the day. The binder had their most important visuals and supports and a few extras. Each had a token board, visual schedule, social stories individualized dependent on student needs, visual checklists, break cards, and a zipper pencil pouch. And each pouch, dependent on student needs, had a variety of small items such as dry erase marker (if needed for schedules), eraser (or paper towel), pencils, crayons, scissors (especially for our kiddos who went out for some classes), small sensory items, etc.

And then came me and my staff. In each of our instructional areas we also had everything we needed. And each day was purposefully planned and materials were ready to go. No running around. No trying to figure out what we were teaching next. No searching for materials. We even had planned what to do if I got pulled for a meeting, or if one of us was out sick, or if one of us was dealing with a behavior issue. We had a plan and we were organized so we could grab the materials needed and keep on trucking.

4. Schedule.

Schedule everything. Schedule every minute of every day. Schedule structured time. Schedule unstructured time. And when you know the routines are going to change-schedule that too. If there is an assembly have a schedule. If there is a half day, have a schedule And a schedule the students can use. I would print of half day schedules (no laminating needed-- they only needed it for a day). Schedule what your students will be doing all day. Schedule what your staff will be doing all day. Schedule what you will be doing all day. Don't even give chaos a chance. And on that.....

This one I have talked about, and talked about, and talked about... and talked some more. So I will give it a rest for now. (check out old posts or my instagram account if you want more info on scheduling--- or just leave a comment and ask 😃).

5. Have a plan.

I know it kind of sounds like I am repeating myself and I might be but have a plan. Not just a schedule but a plan. It's like lesson planning but planning for behaviors and planning for needed skills. What do your students need to be successful in life-- and how will you teach it? Everything needs a plan. Our students need more than just reading and math skills so how do we make sure we have time in our crazy, busy days to teach what is important in life.

How will you teach communication skills? And when?

How will you teach social skills? And when?

How will you teach self-regulation skills? And when?

And what about self-monitoring, organization, planning, independence.... I can go on. But what is your plan for teaching all of these things?

And if you have challenging behaviors in your class... you definitely need a plan. What are you going to do when your students inevitably have a meltdown? What do you do if your time is spent with a behavior issue-- what are you other students doing and what is your staff doing?

And most importantly-- how will you teach replacement behaviors? How will you teach the students the behaviors and skills needed to access what they want and need replacing the unwanted behaviors?

Behavior programming is key to your success and success of your students. And I might be biased but it is the most important. Learning won't be happening if behavior is out of control. Learning won't be happening if your students have control of your classroom. So how are you going to make sure that learning is happening? Focus first on teaching and reinforcing socially appropriate behaviors-- behaviors needed for success in schools and life. And focus second on academics. Give the students a way to communicate their needs and wants. Give a student a way to express their frustration and emotions-- because trust me no matter what you do they will have them. Give students a way to be independent. Give students a way to be successful. Give them the skills and behaviors needed to get access to the good things in life.

All hail the father of behavior

~Kaylan~

Check out my TPT store for resources to help get control back! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Autism-Specially-Designed