Sara Stewart

March 21, 2017

SpEd 480
Emotional Disturbance

Teachers face many challenges in the classroom today. One of the most vital aspects of

their jobs is to provide students with a classroom environment that is productive, cooperative,

and friendly. How can teachers accomplish this goal if they have a student with an emotional

disorder/disturbance in the general education classroom? Teachers can help defuse and

prevent disruptions by teaching the student the skills necessary to build on positive behavior

and being prepared in case of an outburst or disturbance.

Each student classified as emotionally disturbed can exhibit different behaviors and to

different degrees. According to Vaughn (2011), emotional and behavioral disorders can be

classified broadly as externalizing and internalizing (p. 204). Externalizing behaviors tend to

interfere with others (Vaughn 2011, p. 204) while internalizing behaviors tend to be less

disturbing to others but still very disturbing to themselves or their families (Vaughn 2011, p.

204). In order to assist the students diagnosed with emotional disorders, teachers can model

and provide appropriate interventions that will allow these students to thrive within the

classroom and social settings. Such interventions include: changing undesirable behaviors into

desirable behaviors...that enhance instruction...or the students learning (Vaughn 2011, p.

217); teaching students how to resolve conflicts and promote self control (Vaughn 2011, p.

218); teaching students to identify their problem behaviors, to set personal goals, and to,

monitor their academic and social behavior (Vaughn 2011, p. 220); teaching self-management

and social skills; and differentiating instruction by adapting instruction to their needs (Vaughn

2011, p. 226).
 Teachers also need to be prepared for an occasion when an emotionally disturbed

student will act out within the classroom. Each student diagnosed as Emotionally Disturbed will

have had a Functional Behavioral Assessment as well as a Behavioral Improvement Plan (BIP).

It is important for the teacher to follow the guidelines established by the BIP in order to ensure

student success. If there is an instance where student behavior is out of control and it begins to

inhibit learning or endanger other students welfare it is important to know that there is a support

staff within your school to assist you.

Bibliography

Vaughn, S., Bos, C. S., & Schumm, J. S. (2011). Teaching Students Who are Exceptional,
Diverse, and At Risk in the General Education Classroom (5th ed.). New York, NY:
Pearson.