Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports
PBIS is NOT what separates CGCA from regular schools.
What separates CGCA from regular schools is our emphasis on teaching Social Skills to our students.
The teaching of Social Skills should be given EQUAL importance to the teaching of Academic Content.
And, luckily, for our students, focusing so intently on the acquisition of Social Skills is going to make learning the Academic Content MUCH easier to learn AND to teach!
We want all that, right?
The Critical Elements of School-Wide PBIS
1. The PBIS Team-Principal.
The CGCA PBIS Team:
David Ackerman - Data Specialist
Kim Brewer - Behavior Specialist
Cindy Campbell - Coach
Steve Derr - Administrator
Shelia Durdley - Timekeeper
Cynthia Heyward - Minutes Taker/ Book Keeper
Natasha Holmes - Team Leader
Heather Matthews - High School Representative
Karisma Porter - Support Staff Representative
2. Clear Expectations & Rules.
We Care
We Go Safe
We Cooperate
We Ask
3. Teaching Behavior- Explicitly.
Teach Routines and Expectations as your Main Focus of Instruction for - at least- the first week of school.
4. Data Entry and Analysis
Point Cards, Account Books, II Forms, SWIS Data.
5. Recognition (Feedback)
Positive Praise, PBIS Announcements, Token Economy with Purchasing Power, Point Store, Progress Level Incentives
6. Effective Discipline Process.
Teaching Interactions, Relationship Building, Point System, etc.
7. Faculty Commitment.
WE HAVE TO HAVE IT!
8. Implementation With Fidelity.
1. The PBIS Team-Principal.
The CGCA PBIS Team:
David Ackerman - Data Specialist
Kim Brewer - Behavior Specialist
Cindy Campbell - Coach
Steve Derr - Administrator
Shelia Durdley - Timekeeper
Cynthia Heyward - Minutes Taker/ Book Keeper
Natasha Holmes - Team Leader
Heather Matthews - High School Representative
Karisma Porter - Support Staff Representative
2. Clear Expectations & Rules.
We Care
We Go Safe
We Cooperate
We Ask
3. Teaching Behavior- Explicitly.
Teach Routines and Expectations as your Main Focus of Instruction for - at least- the first week of school.
4. Data Entry and Analysis
Point Cards, Account Books, II Forms, SWIS Data.
5. Recognition (Feedback)
Positive Praise, PBIS Announcements, Token Economy with Purchasing Power, Point Store, Progress Level Incentives
6. Effective Discipline Process.
Teaching Interactions, Relationship Building, Point System, etc.
7. Faculty Commitment.
WE HAVE TO HAVE IT!
8. Implementation With Fidelity.
The Good News!
PBIS Works!
The Reality :
PBIS only works when implemented with fidelity
Fidelity Only Happens with Staff Buy-in
Buy-in at CGCA
Helping to Create a Positive Environment of Caring and Cooperation where students practice being Safe and are not hesitant to
Ask questions.
Ask questions.
Lack of Vision & Skills looks like:
- Speaking harshly
- Calling out, embarrassing students.
- Sarcasm, rude tone of voice, reprimands
- Inappropriate behaviors are perceived as opportunity to punish
- Relationships are not built, no trust is gained as students are passed off to other staff to "deal with" the behavior.
- Positive Modeling is absent.
- Successes are barely acknowledged.
- Intensive Intervention, Therapy Rooms, Assistance from Staff, are seen and used as punitive measures.
- Arguing with students and determined to show them who is boss around here!
- Data Collection is neglected and not valued.
- And maybe a few that you can think of...
Non-negotiable
- Routines and Expectations are taught as the FOCUS of instruction for AT LEAST the first few weeks! Do Role-Play as you teach these. Pay attention to the needs of your students and focus Social Skills lessons on your needs assessment.
- All Students have a Point Card every day. Even those who refuse to carry one. Even half day students. Half day students will not earn the full 60 points - calculate their daily percentages based on the class periods they are in the building. All classes. When our school is described as " All of our students participate in a social skills program and have a daily point card..." It doesn't mean all students except yours. Like Mr. Derr said, all still means all.
- Point Cards are filled out throughout the day with accompanying teacher feedback. When the entire Point Card is blank and it is the middle of the day - or the end of the day, there is a serious problem with Buy-in.
- Points awarded are deserved - 0, 1 or 2. BONUS points are RARE and few! Bonus points do NOT count when calculating daily percentage.
- POINTS ARE NEVER TAKEN AWAY! EVER! Ever. No student should ever earn zero points for a day unless they were in EII or absent!
- Account Books are taken seriously as being vitally important to the Social Skills program and are filled out every day completely and accurately. Teachers (both!) know when students are approaching Progress Level and do not make a student wait if it is not necessary. A properly filled out Account Book is an enormously valuable data tool for teachers. If done correctly, it can be perfect debriefing documentation.
- Make sure that your Progress Students are maintaining 80% of their daily points every day! If not they need to be removed from Progress according to the "On Probation" rules.
- A Progress Attainment Chart is large and visible in your classroom! AND it is ready on Day ONE!
- Rewards are built into daily classroom routines. A reward can be a compliment.
- Point Store is visited regularly and the rules there are strictly followed: -You MUST bring your account books and do the data entry right then and there! Do not come down with no way of recording the transactions - it diminishes the importance of the point store. Supervise the students in the Store. NO LAY-AWAY - No Discounts. Only 1 item from the store per day.
- Create plenty of opportunities for students to "spend" their points in places other than the Point Store. Ideas are available right here on this website.
- Progress is encouraged and rewarded. Be sure that Progress students are acknowledged within the classroom. BLUE POINT CARDS FOR PROGRESS STUDENTS!
- Rules are followed with integrity by everyone.
You might not have bought into the vision of PBIS if you hear yourself saying things like...
Non-examples of Positive Talk
EXCUSE ME?
Do you want an II?
Do it one more time.
I shouldn't have to tell you! You should know better!
You don't deserve to go to the Point Store.
Do not start with me today!
