As a special education teacher, having a bag of tricks for de-escalation strategies is a necessity. Knowing how to diffuse a situation and get students back on track or to a safe setting is key.
While restraint-based strategies may need to be used in some cases, there are many others where non-restraint-based de-escalation strategies are ideal. But what are those strategies?
Here are some teacher-tested non-restraint-based de-escalation strategies that are worth adding to your teaching toolkit.
Non-restraint-based strategies are highly effective in most scenarios. While more serious situations can lead to a need for restraint, the majority of situations can be diffused with other tactics. The ones below work well.
While being trained in the collaborative problem-solving method is ideal, even those teachers who are not can implement it. It begins by defining the problem. After the problem is defined, it’s time to analyze it. Next, together you determine what to do about the problem. Implementing the plan with fidelity comes next. Finally, progress is evaluated and the next course of action is determined together.
If you’re looking for some behavior strategies, use this behavior strategies ring for different strategies throughout the different stages of a students behavior. Get access by joining The Intentional IEP here or by clicking the image above.
Before things get out of control, a period of deep breathing is worth trying. A sound, like the ringing of a bell or chimes, can indicate that it’s time to pause what’s happening in the classroom and take time to breathe.
Keeping weighted blankets, sensory toys, and other sensory materials around can help students de-escalate quickly.
Giving a student choices and then waiting for them to make a choice is an underrated but highly effective strategy. Wait time can make a big difference for all students, but especially for those with processing disorders who need a bit more time.
Here is a short snippet from one of the trainings inside of TII membership about behavior supports:
The membership also provides guidance on keeping parents involved, which can be challenging for everyone!
You can join The Intentional IEP to gain access to over 150+ different IEP related trainings, and access to our IEP Goal Bank. Click the image above to join!
Distracting a student to get them out of a moment of possible escalation is also a tried-and-true method. Redirecting with a change of conversation, especially to something the student is interested in, can be an easy way to alter the course of the situation and de-escalate things.
Create a chill-out or zen space in your classroom to give students a place that they can retreat to when they need to regroup and collect themselves. There are, of course, times when even this space will not be enough, but having it available and accessible may give students a chance to head there before their behavior escalates.
One of the most important things you can do to de-escalate any situation is to rely on the relationships that you have built with your students. This process starts from the very first day of school (or earlier if you send out welcome postcards or cards) and is something that needs to be worked on daily. By establishing it early in the school year, you have the ability to call upon those bonds later in the year if things start to deteriorate in a situation.
De-escalating a situation can be challenging, but when you have multiple strategies in your teaching bag of tricks it can be a little bit easier. Try out different methods and establish those relationships and dialogues with your students quickly. Your attitude and your response to their behavior can play a major role in how the situation escalates – or not.
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