School taking place at home can be extremely disruptive for students with disabilities. Many compartmentalize that school is the place for work and home is the place to relax. When those two worlds collide, there can be a complete lack of focus and behaviors can emerge. Here are some tips that can help make this time at home more successful.
Create a space that is just for learning. Growth will only take place in an environment that is conducive to it. If the learning is being provided in a space where there is constant foot traffic, where a television on, where there is quick access to toys, or any other distraction, it will be very difficult for the student to focus. It can also be very confusing for a student if they are being asked to do work in the same spot that they typically do more pleasant activities, like play on a tablet or listen to music. Designate a space in the home that is used exclusively for school work and put a sign on it that says “_______’s Desk” with a picture of the student attached. Not every home will have the flexibility for this, so do what you can. At a minimum, have a chair at the kitchen table designated for work and a different chair designated for eating, playing, or other activities.
Bring school to them. Your student may have favorite clothes, pencils, food, drinks, etc. that they save only for school. This is the time to bring those out. Have them unpack their backpack at the start of the day and repack it back up at the end of the day. The more the student is able to access things associated with school while they are doing their work, the easier it will be for them to get into that school mindset.
Start each day with reviewing a well-structured schedule. From the student’s perspective, the only thing scarier than having to do school at home is having no idea when it is going to end. Before doing any work, review the events of the day. Highlight the more enjoyable portions while reminding them how they can request a break or get help during the more challenging work. The schedule itself should have a variety of activities that alternate between preferred work, non-preferred work, movement breaks, snacks, and other activities. Be sure to not linger in any one activity for too long, the day will go quicker for the student if they are able to continue moving from one activity to the next.
Have realistic expectations. Due to various unique circumstances related to this pandemic and having to stay home, your student may not be able to perform at the level that would by typical of them in the schoolhouse. Yes, they may be able to succeed with the structures found in a 6.5 hour school day, but what they are now faced with looks and feels very different. Be sensitive to what you believe are realistic expectations for the student and build their schedule accordingly. If they are being asked to do more than they are able, they may disengage from their learning altogether.
Provide choice. Being stuck at home may lead to your student feeling like they are trapped. Add the demand of school work and your student may straight up shut down. Providing choices can reinfuse a sense of control back into their day. This can take on many forms. Maybe they assist in organizing parts of the schedule. Maybe you allow them to select which adult will help them or which book they would like to read. Think about the differing ways they could do their assigned work. Consider different colored pens or pencils they could pick from and use. Do they wish to be seated, standing up, or working from the floor? When you give them a choice, you give them a voice. When they feel heard, then they will be more likely to listen.
Prime for technology time. Using a computer for learning can be extremely distracting for any student. They may be very used to using this device for their favorite games, programs, or videos, and now you want them to do school work on it. This would be like someone taking you out to your favorite restaurant just you can sit in the parking lot and work on your taxes. This is not cool. To reduce the shock, before your student is even in front of the computer, clearly communicate to them what will and won’t be happening on the computer at this time. If there is a specific website they would rather access, build into the schedule a time later in the day when they can go there. When they attempt to go to the website, you can redirect them with the assurance that they will get to go there later in the day.
Avoid punishment. Even if this was part of the student’s plan previously, now is not the time. Yes, the threat of punishment has the potential to motivate one to act in a certain way or complete a certain task, but it also has its side effects. Punishment can quickly wear down the relationship between the student and the adult administering it. From the student’s perspective, the work itself can begin to be aversive. Adding such stress during an already stressful time can lead to disengagement and other undesired behavior. If you wish to motivate, then instead you should try to……..
Reinforce Positive Behavior! Communicate the desired behaviors early and be sure those behaviors are reinforced often. You might use a token board, a point system, or just provide a ton of social praise. Your student can save up to earn time with a special video, item, or activity. Whatever you provide them, just be sure it is something that is only accessed by using the desired behavior. If they can have it non-contingently during other times of the day, it will not be as motivating for them.