Practice Guide Portfolio

Emotional Behavioral Disorder (EBD)

According to Pamela Cantor, children under stress release the hormone cortisol which, in turn, has effects on the learning center of the brain. If a child is having an emotional response, their brain is not ready to receive new knowledge. Therefore, they are not able to learn the foundational skills of writing until their cortisol levels return to normal.
Students with EBD are typically several grade levels behind their peers’ reading level.
The highest dropout rate occurs among students with EBD.

YouTube. (2018, August 29). Research@Work: Supporting students who have experienced trauma. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNCFWtkDS88&t=29s

Students with EBD can be given some choice in what they read. Allowing students to read about topics that interest them will encourage them to want to learn to read.
It is helpful for students with EBD to have instruction that expands their vocabulary, especially with words to describe feelings. By helping them identify their feelings and verbalize them, teachers can try to support and de-escalate students before they reach high cortisol levels.
Graphic organizers and story maps support students with EBD by creating a picture that tells the story and increases the comprehension of what is read.