As a behavioral therapist, I had the opportunity to work with a 19 year-old child who does not know how to express himself when he is angry, tired, or asking for assistance.  Providing positive reinforcement and video modeling, the child now knows what to do when he is tired and angry. When he is tired, he would take a short break by washing his face and partake in some exercises. When he gets upset, he now knows that he needs to uncross his arms, open his eyes, take 10 deep breaths, count to 10, and talk to someone how he is feeling and why is he feeling this way.  He also knows to document his feelings on a feeling journal.

An example of student’s academic growth was when I was working with a fifth grader who was an emergent reader and was not eager to learn. Through environmental print, word games, repeated readings, Language Experience Approach, and reading to younger students, the child was eager to learn and was able to identify words on his own.