Behind Closed Doors - You can request the use of a tool that can provide valuable insight into your student's behavior in the classroom setting.
Progress reports and present-level discussions at an IEP meeting may not be enough. Sure, you may get some insight into where your child stands on their progress toward set goals. However, it might not give you a clear picture of their behavior at school.
Does your child have IEP goals that focus on behavior or social and emotional needs?
The data the IEP team collects on your student may provide specific and helpful information to gauge student progress toward mastering objectives. However, does it give you, the parent, a clear picture of your student’s behavior in the classroom? Does it help you understand any reactions their behavior elicits? Reactions from staff and/or other students can unintentionally cause further behavior issues.
One form of data collection called ABC (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence) may be useful. An ABC report can give you a glimpse into your student’s reactions to the daily happenings in their classroom. ABC data is something you could request be used and shared with you on a regular basis.
The form should look something like this (click here for a pdf):
For example, “The classroom teacher clapped her hands 3 times and asked all students to go get in line for recess”.
This statement explains what happened immediately before the behavior. The statement should NOT explain a previous event, such as, “The student was bickering with a friend earlier before school started”.
For example, “The student dropped himself to the floor on his belly and hit the floor with both of his fists and yelled “No” 3 times.”
This statement should be a very descriptive sentence free of emotion or judgment. For example, the description of the behavior should not simply say, “The student was disrespectful and too loud”.
For example, “The other children moved away from the student and the teacher asked the student to stand up and get in line for recess.”
This statement explains the consequence or outcome of a student’s behavior. The consequence should NOT describe a punishment, such as, “The teacher made the student stay inside for recess”.
The last consequence then becomes the next antecedent in the following row. Let’s use the example above. The consequence “The other children moved away from the student and the Teacher asked the student to stand up and get in line for recess.” would become the next antecedent.
The next behavior might be “The student remained on the floor and cried”. The consequence might be “The teacher ignored the student’s behavior, and got everyone else ready to go outside”.
This is how it might look:
The teacher completes this reporting for limited periods of time throughout the day. It is not a task that is done all day, every day.
So, ABC data collection does not have to be time-consuming. It can be scheduled for certain times of the day or used when a challenging behavior occurs.
This data can be emailed to you (the parent) periodically. The more the IEP team shares information, the better they can work together.
This type of data collected unemotionally, accurately, and regularly can prompt the team to enter into a meaningful discussion. The “why” (function) of student’s behavior is sometimes missed in team discussions when focusing on challenging issues that arise in the classroom. The “why” could prompt brainstorming on creative student accommodations in order to avoid certain triggering situations. It might lead the team to come up with more appropriate goals for a student.
Regardless, remember that you are part of the IEP team. You can drive the team to examine the data, and push for your vision of an appropriate classroom environment for your student.
Processes like this can seem daunting. You may not know what to request, or how to request it. The paperwork may seem complicated or hard to interpret. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t let apprehension get in the way of your student receiving a Free and Appropriate Public Education.
When it all seems like too much, just give me a call, I am here to help. I offer a free initial conversation.
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