Emotional Regulation

What it is

An area of student needs, involving difficulty with expression of feelings appropriately.

Teaching Strategies

Instructional
• Develop a positive rapport with the student.
• Directly/explicitly teach lessons on feelings and social skills.
• Give the student advance warning of changes.
• Have regular communication with the home.
• Track behaviours to determine triggers.
• Positively reinforce efforts and improvements.
More...

Environmental

• Use preferential seating to avoid triggers.
• Use stress reduction aids (doodling paper, iPod, stress balls).
• Post classroom rules and consequences.

Assessment

• Provide extra time to reduce anxiety with completion.
• Provide an alternate location.
• Chunk tests and assignments into parts.
• Provide a variety of assignment options.
• Reduce the quantity of required work.
• Allow for oral/scribed tests.



Resources

An outline of rational and irrational fears, types of phobias and behavioural therapy treatment from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

An overview of different milestones children experience as well as parenting strategies from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Numerous resources organized by topic.

Symptoms and strategies.

Student Needs IPRC Exceptionalites Diagnosed Conditions