PBIS...A School Wide Plan

Most educators may agree that addressing disruptive, disrespectful behavior has become one of the greatest demands on their time. We may find that within this challenge are the chronic offenders, those students who repeatedly act out. Research has shown that typical or traditional responses, such as referrals, exclusion and punishment are ineffective in improving behavior. In reality they may even escalate the behavior resulting in more aggression, low self esteem and attendance problems, leaving these students at a high risk for failure.

At Teaching Our Youth, we believe that you need to "Reach Them to Teach Them". The PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support) model provides a proactive strategy for a team approach, problem solving, school wide philosophy to meet the needs of all kids including those considered at risk for behavior problems.

The corner stone to reaching our students is understanding the motives and drives behind the behavior.

The Outgoing/Task Driven "Dominant" Style needs: Challenge Choice and Control.
When these needs are not being met, we will experience "defiant" behavior.

The Outgoing/People Driven "Inspiring" Style needs: Recognition, Approval and Popularity. When these needs are not being met, we will experience "illogical" behavior.

By looking at the behavior we experience when these two styles needs are not being met, we can see that these may be the students who are more at risk for behavior related issues. When we are able to connect with these students and meet these needs in advance they will feel valued, understood and respected thereby reducing the out of control behaviors.

The more reserved, "Supportive" and "Cautious" styles will be less likely to be chronic with disruptive behaviors.

On the other hand we need to understand, "Hurt people, hurt people", no matter what their style may be.

The PBIS approach has three tiers of intervention.

1)      The school wide approach - creates and maintains a positive school wide environment through simple, practical polices. Teams monitor outcomes, problem solve and suggest interventions to improve academic achievement and social outcomes.

2)      Classroom approach - maintaining positive relationships, modeling and even teaching appropriate behavior. (We tend to want to punish or discipline rather than teach what is appropriate. Students cannot do what they do not know.) Actions, not words, are the best teacher. Model, model, model!

3)      Individual approach - specific interventions suggested by the leadership intervention team and or social worker to assist at risk students with strategies that encourage positive behavior.

If you are heading into the new school year with the same discipline policy, let me ask you, "How is that working out for you?" (Quoting Dr. Phil.) We may tend to tolerate or eliminate the behavior but are we really changing the heart of the child?

For more information on implementing a PBIS strategy in your school, contact Teaching Our Youth or visit www.teachingouryouth.com  for suggestions on workshops and training to develop a more positive approach to improving Positive Student Behavior.