Behavioral

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an approach to supporting students to be successful in schools. PBIS was developed from research in the fields of behavior theory and effective instruction. PBIS supports all students through intervention ranging from a school-wide system to a system for developing individualized plans for specific students. School-wide PBIS focuses on the development and implementation of pro-active procedures and practices to prevent problem behavior for all students and improve school climate.

PBIS World contains links to hundreds of interventions, supports and resources. 

Why do we have School-wide Rules?

Having a few simple, positively stated rules facilitates the teaching of behavioral expectations across school settings because students will be learning through the same language. By focusing on 4 simple rules it is easier for students to remember. It is also important for staff because instruction focusing on a few simple rules will improve teaching and consistency across staff through the use of a common language.

Positively stated rules are important, because research has shown that recognizing students for following the rules is even more important than catching them breaking the rules. By stating rules positively, the hope is that staff will be more likely to use the rules to catch students engaging in the appropriate behavior.

By selecting only a few rules it is important that the rules are broad enough to talk about all potential problem behaviors. With the rules selected, the PBIS team believes that we can then teach all specific behavioral expectations across all school setting according to these simple rules. For example:

• Thank you class for being so Respectful by raising your hands to speak and listening to what everyone else had to say about the story.

• You were very Responsible when you asked your classmate to walk in a straight line in the hallway.

• Cleaning up your spills in the cafeteria is an example of being Safe because someone could slip on the spill and get hurt.

• You are Resourceful when you ask for help.

The Behavioral Expectations Grid uses the school-wide rules to identify specific behavioral expectations across all school settings.

All staff and students in the school are expected to know the School-Wide Rules.