When Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Understanding the Challenging Behaviors of Young Children and Students with Disabilities (Essentials for Principals) - Softcover

Kim Davis; Susan D. Dixon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1934009601 ISBN 13: 9781934009604

Publisher: Solution Tree, 2010

Synopsis

Build your understanding of behavior as communication, and learn to interpret the messages behind the actions. This book provides information and tools to support all children whose primary way to communicate is through challenging behaviors. Enlightening, sometimes humorous stories provide examples of how children use behavior to communicate. Engaging exercises and end-of-chapter questions can be used to improve current practice.

Benefits:

• Gain a proactive, strengths-based model for supporting children in learning to self-regulate their behavior.
• Find clear descriptions of the ways in which all children use different behaviors to communicate.
• Interpret the message behind challenging behaviors with provided questions and protocols.
• Get tools to help you develop strategies that meet children's needs and encourage more acceptable means of expression.
• Understand central nervous system disabilities and how they affect learning and communication.
• Explore the hidden issues that may affect behavior.

Contents:
Part I: Foundational Knowledge and Philosophy
1. Introduction
2. Forms of Communication
3. Functions of Communication
4. The Big Picture of Challenging Behaviors: Six Critical Questions
5. Hidden Issues
6. Disability Issues

Part II: Practical Strategies for Supporting Behavior
7. Supportive Learning Environments
8. Proactive Behavioral Strategies
9. Proactive Instructional Strategies
10. Reactive Strategies
11. A Child-Centered Approach

About this title

About the Author

Kim Davis has retired as a research associate for the Indiana Resource for Autism at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University Bloomington. Kim has extensive experience in working with people of all ages with disabilities. Through her interactions with families, teachers, and educational professionals whose lives are touched by people with disabilities, she has become an advocate for recognizing behavior as a means of communication. Her workshops and trainings build skills for providing supportive environments in which diverse students can develop and use healthy behaviors as a means of communication. An educator since 1972, Kim first worked as a physical education teacher.

Kim is author of Adapted Physical Education for Students With Autism, and she has written articles for the Indiana Resource Center for Autism newsletter, Reporter. Kim has worked on numerous video productions and training modules and presented at local, regional, state, and national conferences.

Kim has a bachelor of science in physical education from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, and a master of science in physical education with a concentration in adapted physical education from Indiana University Bloomington.

Susan D. Dixon is a speech and language pathologist supporting elementary-aged children in the Monroe County Community School Corporation in Indiana. She also works for the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University Bloomington, where she is involved in research, writing, and training. Her workshop topics have included behavior as communication; mindful relationship-based practice; integrating therapy into everyday routines, activities, and environments; universally designing early education settings to positively impact language and literacy development; and the social and emotional development of preschool-aged children. Throughout her professional career, Sue has maintained a private practice serving the communication needs of infants, toddlers, and their families, as well as elementary students and adults at home and in vocational settings.

Sue began her career working in a large institution for individuals with significant developmental disabilities and mental illnesses. This experience led her to engage what became a seminal question in her work: How do behaviors function communicatively? Her written work and trainings focus on creating supportive and positive relationships by relying on collaboration among concerned groups to provide diverse individuals opportunities to achieve success.

She is coauthor of Adapting Curriculum and Instruction in Inclusive Early Childhood Settings. Sue has also written articles for Young Exceptional Children and Young Children.

She has a bachelor of science in communication disorders from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master of arts in speech and language pathology from Western Illinois University.

Review

"When Actions Speak Louder Than Words is a much-needed book for teachers working in the classroom. It provides solid evidence that all behavior communicates and that it is up to the adults to understand what a child might be trying to communicate and to respond appropriately. The authors include wonderful, practical examples that bring to life the information. It is just what many teachers are looking for in the way of answers to many questions about why children behave the way they do."

--Ellen Veselack, Director of the Preschool Program, Child Educational Center, La Canada, CA.

"When Actions Speak Louder Than Words is a tremendous resource for families and professionals alike! The authors build a clear link between communication and behavior, emphasizing behavior as communication. Using case-based scenarios, they highlight the importance of building functional communication systems for all. Most importantly, they emphasize dignity and respect as the foundation for serving individuals with complex disabilities."

--Dr. Christine Carnahan, Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

"When Actions Speak Louder Than Words is a great resource for both new and veteran teachers. It allows the new teacher and some veterans to understand why students behave the way that they do and how to respond. As a teacher of special education for over a decade, I was reminded and enlightened about why my students behave in both negative and positive ways."

--Stacie Ward, Elementary Special Education Teacher, Lowell Elementary School, Boise, ID

Edition details

• Publisher: Solution Tree
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1934009601
• ISBN 13: 9781934009604
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 216