Preschool & Kindergarten Strategies for Complex Behavior Challenges

Preschool and kindergarten teachers are extraordinary, under-appreciated professionals who are confronted with helping children develop the foundation for academic achievement, while often simultaneously developing the social skill prerequisites for learning in students with behavioral challenges.  Some preschool and kindergarten students may also demonstrate “complex behavioral challenges” including significant social, developmental, and sensory processing challenges that must be addressed before they can begin learning.  Early childhood educators are confronted with increasing numbers of students with complex behavioral challenges, along with higher academic expectations and testing requirements for all students (that some typical students may lack the developmental readiness for when they enter preschool or kindergarten). 
The FAB Strategies for Preschoolers & Kindergarteners form is helpful in preparing young children to learn these higher academic skills while simultaneously addressing the needs of any students with complex behavioral challenges.  The FAB “Functionally Alert Behavior” Strategies for Preschoolers & Kindergarteners form offers a checklist of activities to promote attention for learning more complex academic tasks and quickly provide home activity suggestions, particularly for children who enter class lacking the maturity to learn.  The FAB Strategies for Preschoolers & Kindergarteners form is also useful in simultaneously developing the social skills needed for learning in children with complex behavioral challenges. 
Complex behavioral challenges are often related to genetic, perinatal, neurological, developmental, early trauma, sensory processing, environmental, and/or parental stress factors.  Many children with complex behavioral challenges in preschool and kindergarten classes have not yet been identified with special needs or given supplemental services to help them learn. When preschool and kindergarten students are provided with supplemental services (e.g., individual teaching assistant and/or occupational, physical, speech/language, or mental health therapist), coordinating goals and intervention can be challenging and is often the responsibility of the classroom teacher.
For children receiving supplemental services the FAB Strategies for Preschoolers & Kindergarteners form helps integrate goals and learning across disciplines.  FAB Strategies are organized in four sections addressing: environmental adaptations, sensory modulation, positive behavioral support, and physical self-control strategies.  The teacher or team lists objective educational goals at the top of the FAB Strategies form, and chooses at least one strategy from each section.  Strategies chosen are checked and underlined for use across disciplines.
A few FAB Strategies options (listed in bold type) are included that can be marked with an X for use by trained occupational, physical, and speech therapists. Two blank lines on the bottom of the form enable teachers and therapists to add strategies not listed on the form.  A line is also included at the bottom of the form for the parent or guardian signature designating that they understand and agree with the strategies used.  The FAB Strategies for Preschoolers & Kindergarteners form is helpful for preschool and kindergarten teachers and therapists in promoting classroom learning.  FABPre&KStrategies