Use of Clay With Emotionally Disturbed StudentsLinda Keck and Frank Mariano

Pittston Area School District

Our thanks to the Pittston Area School District in Pittston, PA for allowing us to work with their teachers and students during the current school year.

Elementary, Middle and High School

Incidence of Emotionally Disturbed Children

In American Schools, 12-14% of the student population is identified as having special needs.

Of the total special education population 7-8% are identified as Emotionally Disturbed.

Approximately 1:100 Students are therefore identified as having some type of Emotional Disturbance.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

“Mental illness are conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

Common Specific Conditions

Bipolar Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Conduct Disorders

Eating Disorders

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Psychotic Disorder

IDEA Definition of Emotional Disturbance

….a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child’s educational performance:

An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors

An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers. (continued)

IDEA Definition, cont’d

Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.

A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.

A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.

Just not apply to children who are socially maladjusted.

The High School

Class size ranged from 6-8 students.

Total students exposed to program 12.

4 classes for 30 minutes each.

The “Blind Bird” exercise.

Blind Birds-HS

The Middle School

Class size ranged from 3-4 students.

Total students exposed to the program, 7.

Four classes for 30 minutes each.

The “Blind Bird” exercise.

Blinds Birds-MS

Elementary School

Class sized ranged 8-9.

Total students exposed, 11.

Four classes for 30 minutes each.

Pinch Pots.

Pinch Pots-Elementary

Tiles-All Levels

Some Finished Work

Conclusions

Some things we could have done differently:

Learn a little more about the students prior to starting the activities.

Would have has the aides and other adults in the elementary class be more involved in order to better support the students.

Be more prepared for the high degree of “mobility” of the classes.

Some things we did well:

Able to work in 30 minute periods.

Visit each class and be totally portable (even without a sink in the high school class).

Activity took place in during the social skills development part of the school day, and the activity was complementary to that part of the schedule as the students were generally cooperative and compliant, receptive to us and the activity, and supportive of each other

Some positive outcomes:

Students did use the clay to express themselves in the content of the class and class rules.

Students looked forward to the activity.

Many staff found it motivating and participated in the activities.

Students enjoyed having the adults try and enjoyed their successes and shortcomings.