Arkansas PBIS Coaches' Newsletter

August 2020 - Adapting PBIS to New Situations

open_in_new zoom_out_map

In this issue:

Coaches' Networking Session information
Adapting PBIS to new situations
Examples of adapting behavior matrices for new situations
Teaching and reviewing expectations in a remote setting
Acknowledging appropriate behavior in a remote setting
Additional resources

zoom_out_map

August 11th: PBIS Coaches' Networking Session: 10am to 11am

Don't miss out on a chance to network with the amazing PBIS Coaches throughout Arkansas!

Anne Merten and Becky Hegger will introduce and lead coaches through the new PBIS guide on Returning to School During and After Crisis.

Join the Zoom Meeting on August 11th using this link: https://zoom.us/j/5909116481

Adapting PBIS to New Situations

zoom_out_map

PBIS is a Flexible Framework

PBIS is all about being proactive and positive: preventing escalating behavior by teaching, modeling, and reinforcing the behavior that we want to see.

The way we deliver lessons and acknowledge students may be different, but the intent is the same.
Encourage and teach families how to create and use a behavior matrix at home.
Teachers will also need more support and encouragement.

This year has been difficult in many ways. We may have to enhance our behavior lesson plans.

Students and teachers may have been exposed to a lot of turmoil and trauma and finding ways to infuse EMPATHY into our teaching and interactions is more important than ever.
Having new and often difficult conversations may require us all to learn how to LISTEN more openly and intently.

Examples of Behavior Matrices

Below are examples of some behavior expectations that may need to be taught for remote learning and in-school learning. Additionally, there is an example of a matrix that families may find helpful for making in-home learning more successful. Click here for behavior matrix examples on our website.

open_in_new zoom_out_map

Teaching and Reviewing Expectations in a Remote Setting

We want our students to be successful in their learning environment, so we will need to spend some time at the beginning of the school year teaching routines, procedures, and behavior expectations.

Creating common expectations across the school and the district could help families with multiple children learning at home.
Consider including students in creating the new behavior expectations, norms, and class agreements.
As with in-school behavior instruction, we need to describe why we use the behavior, how we use the behavior, and when we use the behavior.
Model the behavior and give students opportunities to practice.
Remind students of the expectations when transitioning to a new setting. This can be done verbally or posted in the chat.
Click here for a lesson plan example.

Acknowledging Appropriate Behavior in a Remote Setting

open_in_new zoom_out_map

It's important to find ways to acknowledge students for following the behavior expectations if we want them to continue using these behaviors. It's impossible to know what all is going on at our students' homes, so we may be providing their only positive adult interactions. Below are some ideas for acknowledgments and rewards in a remote setting.