Strategies For Teaching
a Child with Bipolar Disorder
The teaching skills that make a
classroom teacher successful with
typical students are essential when
working with children who have
bipolar disorder:
Flexibility to adapt assignments,
curriculum and presentation style as
needed.
Patience to ignore minor negative
behaviors, encourage positive
behaviors, and provide positive
behavioral choices. Most important
is the ability to stay calm and be a
model of desired behavior.
Good conflict management
skills to resolve conflicts in a nonconfrontational,
non-combative, safe,
and positive manner.
Receptivity to change and to
working collaboratively with the
child’s parents, doctors, and other
professionals to best meet the needs
of the child.
The ability to laugh at oneself and
at situations. Teachers who can laugh
at their own mistakes, and bring
fun and humor into the classroom
reduce the level of stress that
students feel.