ANGRY Students

DE-ESCALATESTRATEGIES TO25

The following strategies are intended to assist with de-escalating a student’s behaviour

before out bursts occur

Outburst

Star

ting

to g

et u

pset

If we think of an outburst occurring

in an arc…with the outburst

happening at the top of the arc. The

following ideas would be used

before we reach the peak and it

might be too late to calm the

person down verbally.

PRE- INTERVENTION

SKILLS

#1 Recognise the student’s warning signs and intervene early.

Nonverbal warnings include agitation, aggressive body language, clenched fists, LOUD VOICE, small items pushed

around.

Become aware of these!

Don’t ignore or turn your back away from an angry student with the intention of simply

ignoring the situation.

The optimal distance for giving acommand is round 1.5meters

2. Do not give directions or commands to an angry student from behind a desk or sitting down.

3. Survey the area around you and the student for potential safety issues

- Proximity to other students- Scissors- Sharpened pencils/ pens- Open doors/ windows- Removed shoes/ clothing- Any potentially hazardous item

LOOK FOR:

4. To help avoid confrontation don't "frontally" face the child.

Stand facing them with your side. This body language is less threatening and puts you in a better self-defense position should the child get aggressive.

5. Allow some physical space between you and the student.

1.5 m

6. Get eye level - neither one of you is up or down.

Encourage the student to be seated, but if he/she needs to stand, you stand up

also.

7. Look CalmAn emotional response from an

adult will reduce compliance.

Exercise self-control!

Body language should be relaxed, with legs and arms uncrossed.

Take a deep slow breath before acting

8. Reduce stimulation.• Invite the student to a quiet place (like side

office or desk) if this is comfortable and does not jeopardise yours or other children's safety.

• Intervene early• Survey the area

• Avoid frontally facing• Allow space

• Eye level - sit or stand• Look calm

• Reduce stimuli if possible

QUICK REVIEW

HOW ANDWHAT TO SAY

Use a soft, quiet but firm tone and make eye contact.

9. Lower your voice tone to a whisper.

REMEMBER:• Do not maintain constant eye contact (this can be intimidating). • Do not point or shake your finger. • Do not touch the child.• Keep hands out of your pockets, up and available to protect yourself.

10. Be very respectful even when firmly setting limits or calling for

help. 

The agitated student is very sensitive to feeling shamed and disrespected.

We want him/her to know that it is not necessary to show us that they must be respected. 

Always treat them with dignity and respect.

11. Don’t press for explanations for their current behaviour or ask why?

why

e.g., “Now tell me exactly why you feelyou have the right to behave so inappropriately…”

You can get to the bottom of this later!

12. Always be looking for any small positive behaviours and reinforce

Examples: Student takes a seat as you requested

Students starts breathing calmly

Students picks up an item you requested

Student uses the words at any time “I feel……”

Acknowledge these behaviours frequently!!

13. Set clear firm limits about behaviour that is and is not acceptable• Involve the child in setting up these

expectations• Set a small number (sometimes 1) that will be

focused and built on• Write them down and display them so

eveyone can see them

Avoid using negative language (don’t, stop etc;) when setting these

14. Acknowledge feelings Effective listening makes the student feel heard and can be the key to diffusing a critical situation.

• "I can appreciate your situation...” • “It sounds hard for you too...” • “Thank you for letting me know...” • “I can see how angry/frustrated/upset you are.

When you are feeling calm again we can talk about this“

With practice we can all understand and/or appreciate another's point of view or needs.

15. Use words/phrases that de-escalate:“Let’s try…..

“Maybe, we can“What if ….

“I feel, “It seems like,

‘I think, “Sometimes people can…..

“Perhaps we…. “I wonder if……

16. Breath deeply and slowly throughout your discussion. Demonstrate and practice the behaviour you want them to do. You don’t have to announce it, just do it as you talk with them.

17. Tell the child to start an appropriate behaviour

“Please start picking up the blocks.”and

Make fewer stop demands such as, “Stop arguing with me! Pick up the blocks”

Avoid putting commands into the form of questions

18. Demand the Possible

• Be certain the request is something the child is able to accomplish.

• Some directions are confusing. The child may truly not understand your expectations.

• Try to break down complex concepts into smaller steps.

Wait 5 Seconds AFTER a request.

Do not talk with the child, do not argue or respond to excuses.

.

Avoid interrupting the child with further instructions

19. Allow time to comply.

:

• Pointing out reality will only increase the child’s frustration.

• This is not the time to start discussing consequences or change a person’s thought process regarding what they believe in

Our goal is to calm and discuss calmly

20. Do not discipline or attempt to change the mind of someone while

they are in crisis.

Examples:

21. Don’t escalate the situation by making threats that you can’t follow up on.

• “You can’t talk to me that way!”

• “Do you want to leave my classroom?”

• “Do you want me to call the office?”

22. Communicate one central thought or idea throughout

CALMING DOWN

23. Do not defend yourself or anyone else from insults or curses.Do not be defensive- even if the comments or insults are directed at you - they are not about you. 

They are about distracting you, upsetting you or getting you off your game.

Don’t let that happen!

24. Once the student has calmed down…

- Be part of the follow up. Help to problem solve and deal with the real issues.

- This builds trust and confidence in the relationship between teacher and student

- Do not rush them –give them as long as they realistically need to calm down

25. Reflection- Discuss and/or write down together what the

student should do next time

- Set some goals for the future

- Make these positive and don’t dwell on the negative behaviour but make sure they know it is unacceptable

• Lower your voice tone• Be very respectful• Don’t press for explanations• Look for any small positive behaviours• Set clear firm limits about behaviour that is

and is not acceptable• Acknowledge feelings• Use words/phrases that de-escalate• Breath deeply and slowly• Tell the child to start an appropriate

behaviour rather than stop it

REVIEW

• Demand the Possible• Allow time to comply• Do not discipline or attempt to change the

mind• Don’t escalate the situation by making

threats• Communicate one central thought or idea

throughout• Do not defend yourself• Help to problem solve and deal with the real

issues

REVIEW

Be familiar with the appropriate referral

resources that are available on campus to assist thestudent immediately.

If the student has not calmed down.Finally,