Students with ASD face many barriers and challenging behaviors. Learning what triggers those behaviors is key in how to handle those behaviors; therefore it is often necessary to conduct a functional behavior assessment (FBA) to determine certain triggers for the individuals with more severe behaviors. Effective prevention of challenging social behavior can be addressed in ways as simple as arranging the classroom environment to decrease or eliminate overstimulation, and even modifying the curriculum and allowing alternative time to complete assignments will often alleviate certain behaviors. Teachers can incorporate social stories into their curriculum that address appropriate social skills as well as teach functional communication skills, which are appropriate replacement behaviors. These are beneficial skills for all students; therefore making the strategies inclusive and collective so as to not target any particular student in the classroom. Teachers can model, demonstrate, coach, or role-play the appropriate interaction skills. They can teach students to ask for help during difficult activities or negotiate alternative times to finish work. Encouraging positive social interactions such as conversational skills will help students with challenging behavior to effectively obtain positive peer attention.

 

Below are some examples of strategies and interventions that have been proven effective in the classroom:​

 

Set clear rules and routines for everything you would like students to do in your classroom.  - Do not assume that students know the expectations for your classroom. Provide a visual list of classroom rules and go over them daily. Give students multiple opportunities to practice classroom routines; provide ongoing support for routines and behaviors; reinforce expected behaviors and explain the consequences if the expectations are not met.

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Use gestural prompts or silent signals. - Create gestural prompts to let students know when to be quiet or not interrupt. You can make it fun and let it be the class secret code, or you may consider using American Sign Language as your silent signal.

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Stay Close. - Make it a habit to circulate throughout the classroom often. It is easier to keep the students on task when you are close. If you notice a student having off-task behavior, it is easier to lean in and whisper and get them back on task with minimal disruption when you are within close proximity. This also allows for quiet corrections for those students who are seeking attention. The teacher can administer a warning and a consequence if necessary and remain in control of the classroom without bringing shame or humiliation to the student. 

 

Give tasks - If you notice that a student is having similar negative behaviors during a certain time of day, then give them a task to do; such as take a note to the office or give another teacher a message. This will help them to reset and be more likely to be compliant when they return. 

 

Take a break. - It is important to allow for a quick break (no longer than 5 minutes) before transitioning, or even after tedious activities. Breaks help students to reset, which may make all the difference between compliance and a meltdown. ​

 

Positive phrasing - Focus on the positive aspects of the behavior instead of the negative. This could take some time and training to break old habits, but it is effective. For example: Negative statement - If you don’t do your work, then you won’t get to go to recess. Positive statement - If you finish your work you will get to go to recess. 

 

Emphasize the behavior you want to see - Encourage students to carry out the rules and procedures by positively stating the expected behaviors. For example: If the students are being loud and not sitting in their seats you could say, “Oh look at little Johnny and Little Sally! They are sitting so nice and quiet in their seats!” The other students hear the expectation and then scramble to do what Little Johnnie and Sally are doing to get that social approval. 

 

Tangible reinforcers - Rewards are an effective way to encourage positive behavior. Rewards can be edible treats, toys, or a desired activity. Be sure that you set clear guidelines for how to earn rewards. Set realistic goals so students can earn the reward consistently, to maintain motivation. Do fun polls with the students as an assessment tool for what may be motivational reinforcers.