In special education, it is crucial to identify and address target skills that can significantly impact a student’s learning, social interactions, and overall wellbeing. One such essential skill is controlling strong emotions, which enables students to make better decisions and stay safe.

Understanding the Skill: Controlling Strong Emotions

The target skill, controlling strong emotions, involves recognizing and managing intense feelings such as anger, frustration, or sadness. By learning to “change the channel” on these emotions, students can stay in control of their actions and avoid making poor decisions that may jeopardize their safety or relationships.

The Role of Specialists

Various specialists can support the development of the target skill:

• Speech-Language Pathologists: Help students develop communication strategies to express their emotions effectively.
• Social Workers: Assist in identifying triggers and teaching coping mechanisms for managing intense emotions.
• Psychologists: Provide guidance on cognitive and behavioral strategies to regulate emotions and improve decision-making.
• School Counselors: Offer support in developing social and emotional skills for better emotional control in various situations.

IEP Goals for Target Skill

Here are specific SMART IEP goals for developing the target skill in PreK students:

1. Goal: The student will recognize and identify strong emotions in themselves and others.
   
   Strategies and Activities: Role-playing, emotion flashcards, and storytelling exercises.
2. Goal: The student will practice “changing the channel” on strong emotions by thinking of alternative thoughts or actions.
   
   Strategies and Activities: Guided imagery, deep breathing exercises, and positive affirmations.
3. Goal: The student will demonstrate appropriate responses to strong emotions in a variety of situations.
   
   Strategies and Activities: Social stories, modeling appropriate behavior, and practicing self-regulation techniques.

Implementing and Measuring Progress

To implement these goals and measure progress, follow these tips:

• Collaborate with specialists to develop individualized strategies and activities.
• Monitor the student’s emotional responses in various situations and provide feedback.
• Regularly review and adjust the IEP goals based on the student’s progress and needs.

Conclusion

Developing the target skill of controlling strong emotions in PreK students is vital for their success in learning, social interactions, and overall wellbeing. By implementing effective IEP goals and collaborating with specialists, educators can significantly enhance their students’ emotional control and decision-making abilities. We encourage you to apply these IEP goals and explore more resources at Everyday Speech Sample Materials to support your students’ growth.