Staying Calm: Teacher Techniques for Handling Escalated Student Behavior

Outline

Content and Engagement:
The content for this session, "Staying Calm: Teacher Techniques for Handling Escalated Student Behavior," will focus on practical strategies to help educators de-escalate student behavior while maintaining their own wellness. We will explore early signs of distress, empathy-driven responses, and culturally responsive, trauma-informed techniques. The session will weave in storytelling of educators who have successfully navigated challenging behaviors. Educators will engage in reflective activities and role-play scenarios to practice de-escalation techniques in real-time.

Time:
The 60-minute session will be evenly divided among three main components:
1. Storytelling and reflection (20 minutes): Educators will engage in a guided reflection on managing stress during escalated situations.
2. Role-playing de-escalation techniques (20 minutes): Small groups will practice de-escalation methods, role-playing common student behaviors and using trauma-informed responses.
3. Using tools to successfully manage Tier 2 behavior (20 minutes): Participants will explore technology tools like AI to generate social stories or behavior contracts to support student behavior.

Process:
To engage the audience, the session will include:
- Personal reflection time: Participants will reflect on their past experiences with escalated behavior and identify triggers that challenge their wellness.
- Peer-to-peer interaction: Educators will work together in small groups during role-play exercises, providing feedback and support.
- Device-based activities: Participants will use AI tools to create social stories or behavior contracts tailored to their students, and will craft individual wellness plans using digital journaling or wellness apps.

This combination of storytelling, practical strategies, and technology-driven solutions will keep educators engaged while giving them tools they can immediately apply in their classrooms.

Supporting research

This session, "Staying Calm: Teacher Techniques for Handling Escalated Student Behavior," draws from recent research on trauma-informed practices and the role of teacher emotional regulation. Current studies highlight that trauma-informed approaches not only improve student behavior but also enhance educators' ability to manage classroom dynamics effectively (Brunzell, Stokes, & Waters, 2019).
Additionally, research on teacher well-being demonstrates that teachers who practice emotional regulation techniques are more successful at maintaining calm during student escalations, leading to better student outcomes and a healthier classroom climate (Schonert-Reichl, 2017). By integrating these evidence-based strategies, the session provides educators with practical tools to support both student and teacher wellness.

References:
- Brunzell, T., Stokes, H., & Waters, L. (2019). Trauma-informed positive education: Using positive psychology to strengthen vulnerable students. Contemporary School Psychology, 23(2), 100-111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40688-018-00217-2

- Schonert-Reichl, K. A. (2017). Social and emotional learning and teachers. The Future of Children, 27(1), 137-155. https://doi.org/10.1353/foc.2017.0007