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  • Module
  • Challenge
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Challenge
Initial Thoughts
Perspectives & Resources

What should educators understand about challenging behaviors?

  • Page 1: Challenging Behavior

How can educators recognize and intervene when student behavior is escalating?

  • Page 2: Acting-Out Cycle
  • Page 3: Calm
  • Page 4: Trigger
  • Page 5: Agitation
  • Page 6: Acceleration
  • Page 7: Peak
  • Page 8: De-escalation
  • Page 9: Recovery
  • Page 10: Putting It All Together

Resources

  • Page 11: References & Additional Resources
  • Page 12: Credits
Wrap Up
Assessment
We want to hear from you. Please complete our brief Module Feedback Form.

Resources

Page 12: Credits

To cite this module, please use the following:

The IRIS Center. (2005, 2022). Addressing Challenging Behaviors (Part 1, Elementary): Understanding the Acting-Out Cycle. Retrieved from https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/module/bi1-elem/

Content Experts

Kathleen Lane

Module Developers

Pam Lehman
Kim Skow
Sara Ioannou
Naomi Tyler

Video Script Developers

Johanna Staubitz
Alyssa Broaddus
Hanlin Chen

Module Production Team

Reviewers
Sally Bresnahan
Jordan Lukins
Sarah Price
Sarah Semon
Deb Smith
Johanna Staubitz

Module Production Support Team

Transcripts
Pam Dismuke
Marona Graham-Bailey
Mary Hamilton

Audio engineer
Brenda Knight

Media specialist/technical support
Brenda Knight

Web master
John Harwood

Media

Narration
Brenda Knight

Photographer
Brenda Knight

Videographer
Cinematicfocus Video Productions, LLC

Graphics
The acting-out cycle rollercoaster graphic (pp. 2–9, Wrap Up) has been adapted with permission from Colvin, G. (2004). Managing the cycle of acting-out behavior of the classroom. Eugene, OR: Behavior Associates.
All other graphics courtesy the IRIS Center.

Photos
“Pamela Glenn” courtesy of Pamela Glenn
“Gloria Campbell-Whatley” courtesy of Gloria Campbell-Whatley
“Janel Brown” courtesy of Janel Brown
“Kathleen Lane” courtesy of Kathleen Lane
“Harold Holmes” courtesy of Harold Holmes
“Johanna Staubitz” courtesy of Johanna Staubitz

Expert Interviews
Pamela Glenn (pp. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9)
Gloria Campbell-Whatley (pp. 1, 3, 9)
Janel Brown (pp. 2, 4-8)
Kathleen Lane (pp. 3-9)
Harold Holmes (p. 3)
Johanna Staubitz (pp. 3-9)

Acknowledgements

The primary reference for this module is: Colvin, G. & Scott, T. M. (2015). Managing the cycle of acting-out behavior in the classroom (2nd ed.). Corwin.

The IRIS Center would like to thank the following for their contributions to the behavior vignettes and photos in this module.

  • Johanna Staubitz, Alyssa Broaddus, and Hanlin Chen from Vanderbilt University’s Applied Behavior Analysis program (Department of Special Education) for developing video scripts and assisting with filming the videos.
  • Matt Santini, a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University, who played the teacher.
  • The student actors and their parents.
  • The University School of Nashville (USN) for allowing us to film at their school and Marte Beaty of USN for coordinating this effort.
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