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A-State PBIS News
December 2023
In this issue...
Arkansas Happenings
Invitation to December Networking Session
PBIS in the Classroom
Self-Care Corner
Resources
Arkansas Happenings
A-State to Offer More PD at Reduced Rates
Thanks to the grant provided by the Dept. of Justice/Bureau of Justice Programs, Project P.E.A.C.E. (Prevention, Engagement, and Connection in Education) will be offsetting the cost of providing ongoing PD on PBIS and related topics throughout the next 3 years on the A-State campus! If you've been wanting to bring your team to a Tier I Booster, or you're interested in a specific topic, keep your eyes on our Calendar as we update our schedule. If you have a specific topic in mind, leave us a comment using the Contact A-State button at the bottom of this newsletter. We look forward to reconnecting with schools and making new connections.
Harvest Time Academy
It was a pleasure spending the day with staff from Harvest Time Academy in Fort Smith! The day began with the pre-K - 5 Christian school inviting us to experience their morning assembly, which was such a motivational way to start the day. This assembly is something the Assistant Principal does each day to get students ready for the day. They focus on expectations, intentions, prayers, and calming. This also gives the staff time to commune and prepare for their day, as well.
Once the assembly was finished, we met with most of the K - 5 staff for a full day of evaluating their PBIS implementation for Tiers I and II and creating some action plans. We wish this school well as they take steps to enhance their Tier I implementation and begin building their systems to support Tier II.
Invitation to December Networking Session
December Arkansas PBIS Networking Session
Join our monthly Arkansas PBIS Networking Sessions to connect with and learn from the amazing PBIS implementers across our state! A-State PBIS staff will moderate the sessions and provide free PBIS coaching and technical assistance.
A Zoom Meeting link will be sent to you after registering for a session.
Click here to register for this event.
Tuesday, Dec 19, 2023, 02:30 PM
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
PBIS in the Classroom
Tier I of PBIS is all about schoolwide systems. We create a matrix of desired behaviors based on our schoolwide behavior expectations and then explicitly teach these expectations to students in specified areas and settings of the school. We reinforce the behaviors that we teach. We create consistent procedures for responding to problem behavior. And we use data to make decisions about schoolwide behavior and discipline. But what about in each individual classroom? Students spend a majority of their day in classrooms, so it's no surprise that the highest percentage of office referrals come from classrooms.
Each classroom is different, although there may be a few behaviors that we expect regardless of which classroom, such as being on time. Beyond these few, it's important for teachers to create their very own classroom-wide behavior matrix with settings that occur in their room. For example, the art room and the science lab will have very different settings with very different expectations for behavior. Teachers should take the schoolwide behavior expectations (e.g., Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe) and define them for the various settings or situations within their classroom (e.g., during group or partner work, requesting assistance, handling equipment). See the example below.
Here are some other foundational components for implementing PBIS in the classroom:
- Layout: Create a layout that makes moving around less disruptive and allows for more active supervision.
- Routines: Spend time up front teaching routines to make school days more efficient, with more time for instruction, practice, and feedback. This will be a huge help to students who have attention issues or developmental issues and need more structure.
- Specific Praise: Use plenty of specific praise for both individuals and groups. Specific praise should be provided just after behavior occurs and should be meaningful, understandable, and sincere. Aim for five or more praise statements for every one corrective statement.
- Collect and Use Data: Track student behavior to develop strategies to respond to student behavior. These data will also be necessary to help make decisions for students who need support beyond Tier I.
For more information on PBIS in the classroom, check out the A-State website or the National Center website. If you are interested in training or a booster on PBIS in the Classroom, you can contact us using the Contact A-State button below.
Self-Care Corner
Do Good December - Be Kind!
Let's spread little bits of kindness and be kind to ourselves!
Resources
https://pbis.astate.edu/Technical Assistance and Resource Center for PBIS in Arkansas