Four Components for Training Special Education Teachers in Behavior Management Skills

Abstract

Of all the tasks that special education teachers are charged with completing, managing classroom behaviors has been reported as one of the most challenging and one of the top reasons the teachers are leaving the field. The task of providing effective support in classroom management is also daunting for leadership personnel in school systems. This paper provides four components that should be considered when planning a professional development (PD) package for teachers regarding behavior management. These four components include didactic presentation, performance feedback, technology, and maintenance and generalization. These components have been proven to be effective in the current field of research. Further examples and supportive details regarding each component and how to create an effective PD package are provided in this paper.