Code: 53/42
Characteristics &/or Observable Behaviours
- Frequent temper tantrums
- Excessive arguing with adults
- Often questioning rules
- Active defiance and refusal to comply with adult requests and rules
- Deliberate attempts to annoy or upset people
- Blaming others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
- Often being touchy or easily annoyed by others
- Frequent anger and resentment
- Mean and hateful talking when upset
- Spiteful attitude and revenge seeking
Teaching Strategies & Resources
Diminish Power Struggles
- Providing the student with simple directives and choices.
- State pre-determined consequences clearly before problems occur.
- Listen to the student before reacting.
- Give brief and direct instructions in a calm tone.
- Discuss the problem privately with the student.
- Walk away before the situation gets too "hot."
- Don't threaten unless you are willing to carry the threats out. Threatening students with ODD allows them to test your ability to follow through.
- Clearly define the behaviors you expect. Students with ODD search for the "gray area" to justify their actions.
- Clearly define the consequences of compliant and non-compliant behavior. This provides a direct relationship between the desired or undesired behavior and the respective consequence and prevents "fueling" an argument.
- Always be firm and consistent. Students with ODD are constantly looking for an "open gate" and an opportunity to challenge your directives or justify their position.
- During confrontations, do not allow your emotions to rule. With students with ODD, your anger demonstrates that they are in control. Behave like Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry — stay cool, calm, and collected under the most challenging situation.
Links &/or Sources
http://havasu.k12.az.us/public_forms/parent_information_network/behavior/BR23%20Strategies%20to%20Work%20with%20Students%20with%20Oppositional%20Defiant.pdf
http://www.aacap.org/aacap/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Children_With_Oppositional_Defiant_Disorder_72.aspx