| Abstract [eng] |
Master's thesis topic: CONSTRUCTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOR THROUGH SPEECH THERAPY SESSIONS. Relevance of the research. Students in schools increasingly face not only learning challenges but also behavioral and emotional difficulties. Scientific literature often examines the management of inappropriate behavior, the application of positive behavior strategies in lessons, and support for children with behavioral and emotional disorders (Ibberson, 2017; Ryan and Backer, 2019; Sheridan et al., 2021; Karasova and Nehyba, 2023). Teachers and other educational support specialists frequently encounter inappropriate behavior during sessions, making it important to determine which positive behavior strategies help manage and change students' inappropriate behavior during speech therapy sessions. Problematic questions. What challenges and successes do speech therapists face in constructing positive behavior? How do speech therapists construct desired behavior in children during speech therapy sessions? The aim of the study is to reveal the experiences of speech therapists in constructing positive behavior during speech therapy sessions. The object: construction of positive behavior. Objectives:1) based on scientific literature, analyze the behavioral expressions of children with speech and language disorders and the possibilities for constructing positive behavior during speech therapy sessions. 2) Using semi-structured interviews, analyze speech therapists’ experiences regarding: the manifestations of inappropriate student behavior and their determining factors; strategies and methods applied for managing students' behavior and constructing positive behavior; collaboration among participants in the educational process in constructing students’ positive behavior; the influence of constructing positive behavior on overcoming speech and language disorders. A qualitative research methodology was applied, including an analysis of scientific literature and conducting semi-structured interviews. The content analysis method was chosen to analyze the results. The study involved speech therapists (n=11) from general education schools in Lithuania, conducting individual, subgroup, and group speech therapy sessions in four different cities. Results of the research. 1) Inappropriate behavior in children is most often expressed through physical actions, difficulties in regulating emotions, and conflicts with some peers, which disrupt the learning process and social development. Inappropriate behavior is often caused by emotional, social, and personal challenges, a lack of self-regulation, developmental disorders, and the influence of the social environment, including parental attitudes toward the importance of speech therapy and conflicting peer relationships. 2) To address these issues, speech therapists employ various strategies for constructing positive behavior: creating rules, observing and evaluating behavior, using rewards, emotional regulation, and fostering positive relationships. The speech therapist’s role becomes crucial in building trust- and respect-based relationships with students, promoting their emotional well-being and social growth. Personal qualities and professional competencies of the speech therapist, such as empathy, patience, creativity, and professionalism, contribute to creating a safe and motivating environment. 3) Collaboration with parents and teachers ensures consistency and effectiveness in addressing inappropriate behavior issues. Common forms of collaboration include discussions, sharing good practices, and applying unified strategies. 4) Appropriate behavior encourages students' productivity, helps manage stress, and improves language skills. Teaching children proper behavior contributes to vocabulary enrichment and activates language processes. Creating rules simultaneously expands vocabulary, enhances spoken language, and improves its correctness. |
