Develop problem solving skills and asking for help
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Enable access and participation in learning’
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Foster a problem solving culture
Foster a problem solving culture
Closed Captions
Getting past getting stuck
Getting past getting stuck
Getting stuck is a common trigger for challenging behaviour.
“The Learning Pit is about learning what to do when you don’t know what to do.”
Introduce it to students and support them to use it.
No captions or transcript
Establish help signals
Establish help signals
A help signal enables a student to give an unobtrusive signal when they need help. Whilst a student waits for assistance they can select either a calming strategy or alternative work.
It is important to develop the system with your students and establish agreed signals, waiting behaviours, and teacher responses.
Possible signal options:
- colour-coded cup
- an agreed object that usually lies on the desk that can be stood up
- green/red sided card
- traffic light slider
- student writes name on “I need assistance” board
This system can also be used to support individual students rather than taking a whole class approach.
Offer tools to support problem solving
Offer tools to support problem solving
- Additional instruction
- Guided or individual practice
- Peer tutoring
- Timely feedback
- Problem solving buddy
- Video instructions or graphic breakdown of the task
- Writing or speaking frames
- Story or sentence starters
- Digital supports (for example, spelling and grammar checkers, text-to-speech software)
Source: PB4L: Teaching for Positive Behaviour (opens in a new tab/window)
Reflective questions
Reflective questions
- What problem solving approaches are students familiar with?
- How do I model solution-focussed behaviour?
- How do I demonstrate and model that I value risk taking?
- How do I create a safe space for problem solving in my classroom?
Useful resources
Useful resources
James Nottingham’s: The learning challenge
A useful website to explain the stages of The Learning Challenge model. Examples and stories from schools are shared, along with downloadable PDF resources.
Publisher: James Nottingham
Maximize learning: Keeping students in the zone of proximal development
Dr Erica Warren talks about the importance of keeping students in the zone of proximal development. She offers an overview and practical tips to help in the classroom.
Publisher: Learning Specialist and Teacher Materials
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Enable access and participation in learning”:
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How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Behaviour and learning
Understand:
- Understanding behaviour
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Understanding how to respond to problem behaviourShow suggestions for Understanding how to respond to problem behaviour
Strategies for action:
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Foster positive relationships and partnershipsShow suggestions for Foster positive relationships and partnerships
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Collaboratively develop a safe and caring culture and climateShow suggestions for Collaboratively develop a safe and caring culture and climate
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Supporting language and communication skillsShow suggestions for Supporting language and communication skills
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Support emotional wellbeing and positive mental healthShow suggestions for Support emotional wellbeing and positive mental health
- Anticipate, monitor, and plan for responding to child stress
- Strengthen student identity
- Teach stress management, anxiety and coping skills
- Offer relaxation options and downtime activities
- Teach how to recognise emotions and options for expressing feelings
- Providing support following traumatic experiences
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Enable access and participation in learningShow suggestions for Enable access and participation in learning
- Recognise and remove barriers to learning
- Activate student agency and ownership
- Support self management and independence
- Develop problem solving skills and asking for help
- Cooperative and collaborative approaches
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Respond safely to challenging situationsShow suggestions for Respond safely to challenging situations
