When Behavior Doesn’t Make Sense: A New Way to Respond by Alyssa Blask Campbell

You’ve said it before:

“They’re not listening.”

“They’re overreacting.”

“They know better than this.”

And yet, the behavior keeps showing up.

What if the behavior is not about defiance or choice at all, but about a nervous system that needs something different than what we are offering?

In this session, you’ll learn how to differentiate between sensory-driven and emotionally driven behavior so you can respond in ways that support regulation instead of escalating the moment. We’ll walk through the nine sensory systems and explore how they show up in the classroom, often in ways that are misunderstood or mislabeled.

You’ll begin to recognize the patterns beneath the behavior and better understand what a child’s nervous system may be communicating in real time. From there, we’ll shift into practical, in-the-moment strategies you can use right away to support regulation, connection, and learning.

This work is not just about children. As educators, your own nervous system plays a critical role in how you respond, teach, and connect. You’ll leave with tools to support not only your students, but also yourself and your team, helping the classroom feel more manageable, connected, and sustainable.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Differentiate between sensory regulation needs and emotional regulation needs in real classroom moments.

2. Recognize how the nine sensory systems influence behavior in children and adults.

3. Identify behavioral patterns that may point to underlying nervous system needs.

4. Use practical, in-the-moment strategies to support regulation, strengthen connection, and reduce escalation.

5. Reflect on how their own nervous system shapes their responses to children, colleagues, and classroom stressors.