Positive Programming - Teaching Appropriate Skills
Students' inappropriate actions are always trying to communicate messages important to them. Their actions may be inappropriate because they have no other way of communicating what is happening for them. Teaching specific skills is essential.
Positive programming must be related to the needs of the individual student. It relies on consistently using effective teaching processes that reflect the following:
- Individualised planning
- Sequential learning opportunities
- Instruction at an appropriate level to ensure student success
- A demonstration - modelling - practice - feedback cycle
- Quickly paced instruction
- Clear instructional feedback
- A variety of prompting techniques
- Natural reinforcers to encourage engagement and success
- Positive focus to interactions with the student.
Essential skill development for the student with ADD/ADHD include:
- General constructive skills such as organisation, daily living, essential learning areas and communication, which will assist them in all the settings they are working and living in and increase their level of independence
- Alternate useful and appropriate ways to achieve their goals. Some examples include joining in skills rather than cutting across others' games, skills to let others know that the situation is difficult rather than throwing work away. These skills need to be learned
- Skills that help the student relate to others and to manage themselves such as interpersonal and friendship skills and conflict resolution management
- Coping skills to help the student recognise and cope with their emotions, including anger management, problem-solving, how to ask for help and find a safe place or person
- Fun skills, specifically teaching the student games and ways to have fun which will also enhance their opportunities to relate to others positively so that all enjoy and benefit from the interaction.
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