I realized after answering the question asked about behavior during ISTEP Testing that I should address teachers and proctors who are in the situation, several times each year, when state-wide and district wide testing is happening. Testing is a stressful situation for many students, of all ages. The mandatory testing of No Child Left Behind has put an extra dose of stress on not only the students, but the teachers, administrators, and parents. Schools are on high alert during testing week/s and that stress is communicated all the way down the line to the actual test takers. For students who have challenging behaviors, their stress level is at the max. And telling them to be on their best behavior and to pay attention to all the directions and to "NOT do this and NOT do that" and if they do "their tests will be thrown out," only pushes them over the edge (remember threats really don't work) that they are teetering on anyway.
Because this blog is all about interventions and not just more descriptions of why behavior is happening I do have several suggestions to offer. Alert all students the day before testing begins that it is going to be happening and that everyone knows that it is really really important to be at your best...but you know that they are going to feel stressed, frustrated, maybe even angry and that it is natural. You can even tell them that the adults in the building are probably going to be acting stressed as well. And that to make it easier, you are going to do some activities that will calm them before testing starts and during breaks. You want them to do some stretches and breathing exercises in addition to getting a drink and going to the restroom. (Check out Mindful Practices Wellness Program website). And remember teachers...breathe and calm yourself. And for your most challenging students, particularly the ones with IEP's that give them accommodations for testing be very sure you give them frequent breaks and have a proctor who can walk out of the room with them or have an administrator standing by your room and keep watch on those kids so you can catch them when they are beginning to go off task. Put a hand on their shoulder or arm, whisper an encouraging comment, tell them to BREATHE. I promise, it will make the testing go so much better with much less behavioral disruptions.
Elaine Spicer; MSW; LCSW; BCI Certified Instructor
About Me
- Elaine Spicer; LCSW
- I have been a social worker for 31 years. My work has been with families and children first in the area of Child Protective Services and then as a therapist working with the same population. I have worked with divorcing and divorced parents teaching co-parenting techniques, supervised therapists and have been a social worker for emotionally challenged children and adolescents in an inner city school system. About 7 years ago I was introduced to the work of Bryan Post and, as a friend and colleague said at the time...I went Post-al. All of my previous assumptions and indeed my work using behavioral interventions, got pushed aside. And along came the realization that none of the interventions, meant to change behaviors, had anything in common with helping children heal from the trauma they had experienced. My best work these days is as a coach/consultant for parents, other caregivers, and teachers. The services I provide are parent education, coaching, consulting and supervising. I am the mother of five adult children and grandmother to five. I am both a bio mom and an adoptive mom.