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Early Birds part 3.
FROM CLINGY
A study of 46 of the worst-behaved kindergartners in the Eugene School District, now fourth- and fifth-graders, found that after the First Step program, 50 percent became indistinguishable from peers in their behavior. Of the other 50 percent, half needed more behavior-management intervention (such as behavior cards with happy and sad faces, extra verbal praise, and point cards on the teacher's desk) to keep on track, and half needed a more intrusive intervention such as medication or a special-education placement. First Step can be used with antisocial children who are socially withdrawn as well as those who act out. Though they may sit quietly, socially withdrawn children often don't pay attention to the teacher, don't do their work, and don't interact with their peers. Just as with acting-out children, they are rewarded in the First Step program for following directions, doing their work, and getting along with classmates. Results from First Step can be fast and dramatic. Before First Step, Jacob's parents were so baffled and frustrated by his behavior they had been considering home schooling. "We couldn't even get him to go to class. He was scared to death to just walk into the school. He was hysterical," says Mike Patterson. Once in class Jacob was uncooperative, inattentive, and disruptive, says Newton. With First Step, Jacob changed. "He went from hysterical, clinging to you, you can't walk out of the school, to walking into the school by himself, confident, dealing with peers," says Mike Patterson. Now in first grade, Jacob likes school and is excited about doing homework, which he routinely completes on Monday though it isn't due until Thursday. To a casual observer in Turner's class at Chapman, another First Step boy named Winston is indistinguishable from his peers by the 10th day of the program. Just as the class is lining up to go to the library, the prompter goes off. In the hubbub, Turner scans the crowd at the door, looking for Winston so she can check his behavior. He's not easy to spot because he's standing serenely, hands behind his back. "This used to be one of his most difficult times-the transition, getting in line, going somewhere," says Newton, who is visiting to check Winston's progress. "Right now he would have been all over, poking and screaming and making funny noises. Before we couldn't get him in line at all. He would sit there and say, 'No, I'm not going.'" She catches his eye above the crowd and mouths, "You're doing a good job, Winston." RESOURCE NOTE: A $145 kit contains everything needed for implementing First Step with three children and their families. Although the kit can stand alone, training is suggested. Implementing the program takes about 40 to 45 hours per child over a three-month period. A district may be able to use existing staff-such as a child development specialist, school social worker, or special education teacher-in the consultant's role. For more information about the program, training, hiring a consultant, and costs, call Annemieke Golly at (541) 346-3582 or the program publisher, Sopris West, at 1-800-547-6747. n
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Date of Last Update: 9/28/01 
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