Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Go Back                 Case Posted on March 12, 2015 4:00 pm Add to Favorites myqydy Reps: 102 Emotional Breakdowns I have a second grade student who has had many behavior problems in the past. He was recently put on medication that has helped tremendously.Unfortunately, he is now very emotional. At some point each day he becomes very sad. He weeps uncontrollably and says he misses his dad (who is no longer in the picture). The episodes can last over an hour and he is missing a lot. How should I approach this situation?                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.                 Solution 1 Posted March 12, 2015 6:21 pm HyseSa Reps: 100 Find a way to get their mind off of it. I have a very emotional student who gets angry quickly and will throw screaming temper tantrums. If I see it coming on, I remove the student from the situation and ask him to be my helper or we start working on another activity. You can also talk with him and let him get some of it off his chest. If you can't, you could also recommend that the counselor talk with him, since they're trained to handle those kinds of situations. Votes: +14 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution eSyTyt Reps: 101 Great suggestion!   Posted on: October 16, 2015 2:59 am ymuXyg Reps: 100 Keeping his mind off the subject helps. Great solution.   Posted on: October 16, 2015 11:51 pm Kady Schlemmer Reps: 202 This is a very thoughtful solution. It is very helpful.   Posted on: July 9, 2016 7:07 pm VySePu Reps: 202 This is a great solution.   Posted on: February 21, 2020 9:58 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 2 Posted March 12, 2015 4:53 pm maTaTy Reps: 103 I wonder if the student could maybe carry a picture or something that would help him to feel close to his dad while at school. I had a student like that one year and against others opinion I allowed the student to call their mom for a while in the morning so they would know the mom was safe and only a phone call away. I only did it a couple weeks, but it worked. You could also allow the student to do an activity they enjoy to maybe take their mind off the dad. Votes: +3 / -2 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 3 Posted March 15, 2015 2:17 pm equLyV Reps: 104 We have a lot of these cases in our school, especially since I am teaching elementary students. What I do to help my students cope with these situations is called a "restorative" circle. A restorative circle consists of gathering every person or party involved including the mom, the dad(if possible), the counselor, the student, and the teacher who would act as the speaker and mediator. Everyone would literally create a circle facing each other and discuss their experience relating to the issue and how they feel about the situation. The teacher or mediator designee leads the discussion and poses the questions for each participant to respond to. There needs to be a talking piece such as a pen, ball, or anything tangible item to ensure talking turns are being taken. These circles can become very emotional and deep, so make sure you set expectations and keep the environment calm. The purpose of the restorative circle is restore the harm done to a person. There are books and research to support the practice and it does work for me most of the time. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 4 Posted October 10, 2016 1:36 am uVejeg Reps: 205 I think it would help to give the student a safe space he can go to when he is feeling sad. It could be a quiet area with a bean bag chair, books, a mirror, etc. so he can get himself together and then return to learning. I would make sure he knows you are there if he needs to talk, but not make a big deal over how he is acting. The rest of the class still needs to learn and he will come back to the lesson when he is feeling better. Hopefully, over time, he will have less and less episodes. In the meantime, track how often and how long it occurs and discuss it with his parents. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 5 Posted April 26, 2022 11:34 am Angela Mitchell Reps: 200 I think that it could help with having a cool down corner. One of my CT's provided a safe space for students to go to in the classroom that has fidget toys that students would go to if they felt overwhelmed. I think maybe this could hepl your second grade student! Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 6 Posted October 3, 2015 3:41 pm Tamupy Reps: 100 Students can misbehave to avoid people or difficult work. Determine if the student is crying to get out of work. Does he think the subject is difficult and trying to avoid it. When he starts crying make sure he is not hurt and then resume teaching. Do not instigate the crying by consoling him too much. Once the student sees that you are continuing with your lesson and not paying hem attention he may stop crying. If no, call the office so they can contact the parents. Votes: +0 / -5 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.