ABSTRACT
Supporting students through behavioral difficulty can be among one of the most prominent stressors in special education. This chapter offers tried and true approaches to create a healthy classroom environment among even the most reluctant or disruptive learners. Special educators will learn practical approaches to capture the hearts of their students, balance kindness with consistency, and de-escalate negative situations. The chapter offers a new mindset on student behavior, helping special educators to protect their energies even when this area of their practice becomes overwhelming.Special educators can learn how to take proactive steps to meet student needs prior to occurrences of negative behaviors. Special education teachers are also encouraged to reflect on the outside factors which impact student behavior, realizing that taking things personally is counterproductive in their practice. Special education teachers who remain in the profession become masterful in building relationships despite student behavioral difficulties. The tools and strategies offered in this chapter can assist in this rewarding process.
