Before I go on interviews for ECSE I MUST get my behavior/classroom management plan down pat. I have ideas and I know how i want it to look, but Im not sure if its appropriate for ECSE. Are there any books/websites that have appropriate ECSE behavior management strategies. I know.... keeping them busy, praising the other kids who are making good choices, positive reinforcement, ignoring inappropriate behaviors but never ignoring the child. Bring work to that child if they are engaging in escape type behavior. telling the kids what they need to be doing and so on The last interview I went on, which wasn't for Early childhood, i totally messed up the "tell me about your behavior management plan" I knew what I was talking about but couldn't get my thoughts straight... Doesn't each district have their own behavior plan in place? There are some things that districts won't allow (such as giving out edible reinforcements and so on). Just looking for a book or something on Early childhood classroom management. Would the same type of things that work in a EC classroom work in a ECSE room? Thanks
This may be in the wrong area...if a Mod wouldn't mind moving this to the "behavior management" section. I would appreciate it
Many things that work in an early childhood setting will work in a special education setting as well. However, I would really stress the visuals--visual/able to be manipulated schedule, visual cues, redirection, etc.
I worked in ECSE for 2 years. I did not have a specific, set "behavior management plan." But in general, I felt I had very good classroom management. Visuals are EVERYTHING. You can use a picture schedule for the whole class but you can also add individual schedules for struggling students that they manipulate themselves. Have you seen 5pt timers? Basically, there are five little velcro pieces on a long strip. You say "5 pieces left until ... " then you remove a piece and say "4 pieces left until ...", etc. Have laminated cutouts on the floor for standing in line, where to sit at circle, etc. I also had a display for good classroom behavior and put their names and what they did on a cutout. For example, in March it was a black kettle and I put "gold coins" in it for good behavior. The coin would say something like "Johnny shared the trucks with Tommy." We made a big deal about putting those coins up and what the person did. Then at the end of the month those coins went home. Have you seen Social Stories? They are used for students with autism, but you can also use them with the whole group for things like standing in line, eating lunch, etc. Google Social Stories for examples. I found these VERY effective with some students. Hope those help!
I am extremely familiar with visuals and all that. I personally own Boardmaker. I work as a teacher now in a special school for kids with autism so I use social stories and working for cards, kinda like what you described but they earn tokens towards a reward. We use visual schedules and we've used ind schedules for some of the kids. Ok I think I'm doing the right thing and going into the right area.
In my PreK class, we call it "losing play time." Sometimes, "time-out" sounds too negative for them. We talk about the consequences for behavior, and they know when they will lose play time. For a child with ASD, we called it time out, because that is what her parents used, and we had a specific place for her. We tried to make the consequence as concrete as possible for her. She knew her consequence would be sitting in time out to the count of 20. The number got higher if she ignored the time out request. Obviously, we taught her this in small steps, and it became effective fairly quickly. I think much of the EC classroom practices can overlap in an ECSE classroom.
For preschool special ed students, the environment is going to be a huge factor. I would also probably talk about how you're going to use your assistants. Will students be offered breaks when they're out of control? (I'm thinking of sensory tasks, not time out).
? for you... This doesn't relate to your question, but how do you get into the field of ecse? I have my associates in ece and am planning on going back to school for elem. ed/special ed but would love to find a way to keep it early childhood... should I get a masters in behavioural/occupational therapy or a ba in ece or is there another program that you know of? I've been having difficulties deciding what I want to go back to school for. All I know is I love working with special needs children... Thanks for your input!!
I received my special education credential then Im taking classes towards a early childhood special education approval in my state. It depends on your state. Some states have certifications for early childhood special education and some just have an endorsement, meaning you need another certification to add the endorsement on to...such as special education or early childhood. Find a program in early childhood that offers the endorsement for early childhood special education. I see you're from CO so I searched a little bit. Here is an example of early childhood special education specialist from the University of Co in Denver http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/c...nts/Pages/EarlyChildhoodSpecialEducation.aspx Check with your state education board.
Thank you Is it worth it to get a degree in this field financial wise? I know I'm not going to get rich in this field but I hear it is better to work for a district and you can't do that w/ a degree in ECE... which is why i was planning on elem ed.
districts around here hire early childhood and early childhood special education teachers... you would have to research schools around CO
Remember that many ECSE kids don't understand token systems and need immediate rewards to work for. Use "First/Then" boards with pictures or symbols.
Both Elem Ed and ECE are competitive... but you can most certainly work for a district with a certificate in early childhood. Occupational therapists can work in schools or hospitals and other settings...
