Addressing Barriers to Learning: Helping Students Cope with Disruptive Behaviors

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Addressing Barriers to Learning Helping
Students Cope with Disruptive Behaviors

• Anxiety Disorder
• Mental Health in the Schools Series
• Suzanne Rilling
• Mili Lal
• Susan Cole

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OBJECTIVES

• Overview of Anxiety Disorder
• Signs and Symptoms
• Strategies/Interventions
• Classroom Accommodations
• Developing a Plan
• Case Study

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ANXIETY

• A generalized response to people or events that
  pose no immediate threat although to the
  individual they seem threatening.

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Types of Anxiety Disorders

• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Phobias (social, objects, animals)

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ANXIETY DISORDERS

• General Information
• Effects approx. 8-10 of school aged children
• Most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis in those 16
  yrs. younger
• Associated with negative impact in multiple
  domains
• High rate of comorbidity

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Diagnostic Criteria

• Symptoms are at an inappropriate severity level
  for age and developmental stage.
• Must cause SIGNIFICANT functional impairment to
  be considered a disorder.

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Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety COGNITIVE

• Fearful
• Nervous
• Stressed
• Self-defeating
• Inattentive
• Indecisive

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Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety BEHAVIORAL

• Restless
• Clingy
• Dependent
• Shy
• Withdrawn
• Avoidant

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Signs and Symptoms of AnxietyPHYSICAL

• Increased heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Skin Irritation
• Sweating
• Gastro-Intestinal
• Dizziness
• Dry Mouth
• Stuttering

• Sleep Disturbance
• Muscle tension

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ACTIVITY

• WHAT MIGHT ANXIETY LOOK LIKE IN YOUR
  CLASSROOM/SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT?

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Observable/Measurable Behaviors of Anxiety in the
Classroom

• Clingy
• Refusal
• Withdrawn
• Leaving the room
• Frequent visits to the nurse
• Shut down

• Cries easily
• Negative self-talk
• Nail biting
• Hair Twirling

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Types of Treatment

• Psychotherapeutic Treatments
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Other Therapies
• Medication Treatments
• Other Services

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Anxiety and Development

• Childhood
• Fear of animals, the dark, imaginary creatures
• Middle Childhood
• School Performance
• Adolescence
• Social and Interpersonal

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STRATEGY INFORMATION SHARE

• WHAT WORKS?

• WHAT DOESNT?

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Helpful Accommodations

• Back and Forth Notebook between home and school
• Extended time for tests/assignments
• Late start to school day or shortened day
• Unlimited access to bathroom/water
• Extra set of books at home
• Tool kit to manage emotions

• Calculator for math
• Break long tasks into smaller segments
• Permission to have snacks
• Alternative/Modified assignments
• Books on tape
• Natural Light
• Hard copy of notes

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Developing A Good Intervention Plan

• STEP 1 Establish a team
• STEP 2 Get Student Input
• STEP 3 Teach Self-Monitoring
  Techniques
• STEP 4 Design Classroom Exit Strategy for
  the student

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CASE STUDY

• MATTHEW-6th Grade

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AVAILABLE SCHOOL-BASED SUPPORT SERVICES