Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an effective approach to classroom management applied to the whole school and whole district, based on over 60 years of research. You know something about it, since you are already familiar with the 3Be’s: Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible, our three district-wide rules.

PBIS is a prevention model as opposed to a reactive, punishment-based model, whereby students are explicitly taught the behavior expectations needed for success in each school environment (classroom, hall, cafeteria, etc.). This is also thought of as universal prevention – we prevent behavior problems rather than wait for a problem to occur and then react. This helps us to work smarter, not harder!

What does this mean for classroom teachers and school staff? If all school staff explicitly teach expected behaviors, then fewer behavior problems will occur at school. Students will understand the expectations and possess the skills needed to excel, both because of this teaching and also because of the reinforcement (engagement) for doing so. When every single person on the staff engages students personally and warmly, students develop an affinity for school because of academic success as well as the warm connections they have acquired from staff. The emotional bucket, if you will, is filled.

So, what are the next steps?

1. Continue explicit teaching of expected behaviors across all school settings (I do, we do, you do).
2. Continue reinforcing your students consistently and randomly to do what is expected. This also reduces the amount of attention students receive for misbehavior.
3. Take a few minutes each week to model and practice one of the 3Be’s.
4. Continue to create warm, nurturing relationships with your students.
5. Include these 3Be’s in your content-based instruction (e.g., “students, were the characters in this story behaving respectfully?”).
6. Notice which students seem to be struggling in spite of your regular teaching behaviour. Provide these students with some UA type explicit reteaching of the 3Be’s one to three times per week.
7. Note which of the 3 behaviors you are addressing and how for each of these students.
8. Note progress for each.
9. Those who are unresponsive to your additional UA teaching can be referred to a Tier-2 group at the site.
10. Consistency in your approach is crucial. With fidelity to the approach, most behavioral issues will be prevented.
11. This approach does not mean office referrals and suspension will not be used. It is simply intended to prevent behavioral challenges before they occur.
12. You are not alone in this process. Dr. Tracy Catalde and the coaches are available to support and assist you and your site.