Positive Behavior Supports

Portage Community High School

“If a child doesn’t know…

how to read, we teach.how to swim, we teach.how to multiply, we teach.how to drive, we teach.how to behave, we………

…….teach? …………punish? “

“Why can’t we finish the last sentence as automatically as we do the others?”

(Tom Herner (NASDE President) Counterpoint 1998, p.2)

What is School-wide Positive Behavior Support?

School-wide PBS is: A systems approach for establishing the social culture and

behavioral supports needed for schools to be effective learning environments for all students.

Evidence-based features of SW-PBS Prevention Define and teach positive social expectations Acknowledge positive behavior Arrange consistent consequences for problem behavior On-going collection and use of data for decision-making Continuum of intensive, individual interventions. Administrative leadership – Team-based implementation

(Systems that support effective practices)

Three Important Themes

Create systems, not just programs, to support each and all students

Earlier rather than later

Evidence, not opinion

Big Ideas to Improve BehaviorSpecify appropriate behaviorTeach appropriate behaviorMonitor behaviorEncourage appropriate behavior

Correct inappropriate behavior

Use data to problem solve

Important Considerations

Invest in building a positive social culture

Common language, Common vision/values, Common Experience

Self-Assess (and use the information)

Are adult expectations predictable for students?

Are adult behaviors consistent across contexts?

Are adults positive? Do students perceived the school as safe?

Five Steps

Form a TeamEstablish Need, Priorities, and

CommitmentDraft a Mission StatementDevelop Working Structures: Develop Maintenance Structures

Background: The School

220-Student Alternative School5 Terms“At Risk”Court InvolvementFree and Reduced LunchTransienceChallenging Family Situations

Background: The Staff

18 Staff Members (10 Teachers)

Varying Levels of Enthusiasm (not atypical!)

History of School Improvement Initiatives

Step 1: Form a Team

Some Tricky and Difficult Decisions:

Who should be on the team?

Who should not be on the team?

How should the team be balanced?

What is the role of the administration?

Step 2 (a): Establish Need

Assumptions Can Be A Problem

Lively Discussion Is A Positive

Spend Some Time On This

Step 2 (b): Establish Priorities

This Gives Structure To Your Plan

We Get a D- For This Step

Neglect Has Caused Problems

Step 2 (c): Establish Commitment

Team Commitment

Getting Staff Buy-In

Step 3: Draft Mission Statement

The mission of Portage Community High School, an innovator of personalized teaching and learning in a caring environment, is to ensure that all students graduate with the academic and social skills necessary to compete in our society.

becomes . . .

Step 3: Draft Mission Statement

Our vision is to create an environment of students and staff who are productive, engaged, and empowered to make positive choices.

Step 4: Develop Working Structures

From The Mission Statement Comes . . .

BEHereOn TimePositiveProductive

Step 4: Develop Working Structures

What does it mean to BeHere?On Time?Positive?Productive?

Portage Community High SchoolBehavior Expectation Matrix

LOCATIONS EXPECTATIONS

HALLWAYS &LOBBY

BUS CAFETERIA CLASSROOMS BATHROOMS

BE HERE *Be moving toward class when 1st Bell Rings*Stay on School Grounds once you arrive

*From the bus, walk directly to school and vice versa.

*During breakfast, only leave class if getting food/drink

*Attend daily! *Straight there, straight back*Have a hall pass at the appropriate times

ON TIME *Walk directly to destination*Use locker to prepare & be ready to enter classroom

*Arrive before bus is scheduled to leave*Wait to leave for the shuttle bus until dismissed

*Get breakfast and return directly to class*Get lunch during 1st 15 minutes

*Be in the room when the 2nd bell rings*Passes only at appropriate times*The teacher dismisses you

*Return to class promptly

POSITIVE * Be considerate of school and other’s property*Keep hands and feet to yourself*Use manners when speaking to others*Use conversational voice

*Follow bus rules*Respect other people’s personal space

*Follow cafeteria guidelines

*Use appropriate language, tone, and volume*Use materials properly*Keep hands to yourself*Clean up*Show tolerance

*Keep bathrooms clean and graffiti-free*Use appropriate behavior and language*Respect each others privacy*Follow bathroom guidelines

Step 4: Develop Working Structures Let the Games Begin!

Make Certain Staff is On Same Page

Develop Strategies for Teaching Expectations

Step 4: Develop Working StructuresStrategies for Teaching to Students

SkitsPosters/Reminders EverywherePassportRewards: Goodie Bag/T-ShirtAn All-School Effort

Expected Behavior Lesson PlanLocation: CLASSROOMExpectation to be Taught: BE HERE & BE ON TIMERationale (tell why the rule is important): Being HERE:Being ON TIME:Provide examples to help students better understand what is and what is not the expected behavior:

EXAMPLES of expected behavior. Choose examples that best “fit” the general case of the behavior expectation.

NON-EXAMPLES of the expected behavior that are: - More similar to examples of expectedbehavior rather than outrageous non-examples- Typical of what students do when they are not engaged in the expected behavior

-Instructors will demonstrate being in class when the 2nd bell rings (in seat? in room?)-Instructors will demonstrate appropriate times to have passes-Instructors will demonstrate students being dismissed

Provide opportunities to practice and build fluency:Acknowledge expected behavior:

School-wide Teaching SchedulePORTAGE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

Date/Block Classroom Cafeteria Hallway/Lobby Bathroom Parking Lot

Monday, Sept 3rd

LABOR DAY

Tuesday, Sept 4th

Teacher Demonstration

1st Block X X X X

2nd Block X

3rd Block X

4th Block X

Wednesday, Sept 5th

Student Demonstration

1st Block X X X X

2nd Block X X

3rd Block X X X

PORTAGE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOLINITIAL PBS IMPLEMENTATION ACTION PLAN

WHAT WHO BY WHEN

PASSPORTS Kathy Aug 29th

TEES Andrea Sept 7th

School-wide QUIZ LuAnn Sept 7th

SIGNS Andrea Delivered by Aug 30th

PENCILS Dawn Sept 7th

PACKETS/BINDERS for TEACHERS(with Teaching Matrix, Lesson Plans, Teaching Schedule, Acknowledgement Plan)

Craig, Mike, Leslie August 29th

PACKETS for STUDENT AMBASSADORS Kathy Sept 4th

PORTAGE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOLPOSITIVE BEHAVIOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PLAN

TYPE OF ACKNOWLEDGE

-MENT

CRITERIA PRESENTATION PROCEDURE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT DESCRIPTION

Student of the Month

-All teachers nominate at least one student-Students must be… Passing all classes Exhibiting appropriate behavior (Here, On-time, Positive, Productive)- No discipline referrals

Luncheon -$25 Gift Certificate-Letter for portfolio-Dog Tag-Medallion-($10 extra if a repeat)

Attendance Award # 1“Sweet Success” Attendance Award #2“Breakfast Club”

-Attends 90% of classes for 3 weeks in a row - Attends 90% of classes for a 9 week term

Paper “treat” with name on itBreakfast brought to class on a cart

Different sweets: ice cream, hot chocolate, brownies, etc. A delicious breakfast served to students right in class.

Passports Student participates in all teaching activities (hallway, classroom, etc.) during school-wide teaching weeks and has areas checked off on passport.

Students give completed Passports to Leslie

-Goodie bag-Passport on wall-Tee shirt

Tickets(Name to yet be determined)

- Student is observed by staff to exhibit one of the school-wide expectations (HERE, ON TIME, POSITIVE, PRODUCTIVE

Given to students intermittently immediately after desired behavior is observed.

-Periodic (weekly?) drawings for $10 gift cards-Purchase items from school store-Purchase “privileges”

Ideas…Rotate assemblies: teaching then celebration, involve community (music performers, etc.) in celebration assemblies, have a talent show, make a video

PORTAGE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOLPOSITIVE BEHAVIOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PLAN

Step 4: Develop Working Structures

Strategies for ReinforcementInstructional CalendarA Particular Challenge for Us:

Revolving Enrollment

COMMUNITY HIGH PBS TEACHING & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SCHEDULE

WEEK OF…

TEACHINGACTIVITY

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTACTIVITIES

Sept .

4 School-wide teaching (see graphic organizer) Passports (Turn into Leslie on Friday 9/07)

10 BE HERE

17 School-wide teaching (see week one)

24 BE ON TIME Assembly (Friday 9/28)

Oct.

1 BE POSITIVE

8 BE PRODUCTIVE

15 BE HERE Sweet Success (Wed 10/17)

22 BE ON TIME Assembly (Friday 10/26)

29 School-wide teaching (see week one)

Nov.

Step 5: Develop Maintenance Structures

A Work in Progress

SWISUsing Data to Make Decisions

Advantages: What the Data Tells UsChallenges: What the Data Doesn’t

Tell UsGetting Data To StaffFiguring Out What To Do With Data

Referrals: 651

Staff: 16 Referrals: 651

Offi ce Disciplinary Referrals

10771024

651

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008

School Year

Referrals

A Few Final Thoughts/Observations

We are just beginning Our environment has noticeably improved Staff is enthusiastic about PBS Yes, it is hard work Must change the way you look at what we do There is a tendency to revert back to pre-PBS

modes of thinking ?????