At our Tucson charter school, we are adopting a new approach to our school culture—the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). This system basically involves catching students doing the right thing. Rather than focusing on negative actions or behavior, and negative language, we promote and acknowledge positive actions and behavior through positive language.
You RRocK!
After breaking down the school into separate areas (learning areas, cafeteria, playground, hallways, restrooms, parking lot and transportation), we posted signage throughout to reinforce ways to be respectful, responsible, and kind in each venue. Staff members have RRocK (Respectful, Responsible, Kind) tickets and each time they catch ANY student doing the right thing, they give the student a golden RRocK ticket. At the end of the week, during each grade’s lunch period there will be a drawing. Each teacher collects the tickets for their class, which go into a tub drawn from by Mr. Bummer or Mr. Waugaman. The student who earned the winning ticket and the teacher who wrote it will get to choose from a list of incentives. Weekly tickets are then added to a large aquarium for an end-of-the-quarter drawing featuring larger prizes.
Student Incentives:
- Homework passes
- A chance to sit in the Principal’s chair
- Lunch outside with their friends
- Lunch with their teacher
- Extra outside time
- Listening to music for 20 minutes while working
- Chat time at the end of the class or period
At the beginning of the school year, all our staff members completed a 5-day training on PBIS, which included guidance on how to correctly implement the project, the do’s and don’ts, behavior flowcharts, how to use positive language, and how to correctly use incentives to promote positive behavior. Each teacher has a PBIS binder containing strategies, resources, reference materials from their training, examples of the new minor report and major referral forms, and scripted statements which promote positive language. Additionally, La Paloma Academy is planning future professional development sessions to reinforce and encourage this program.
I’ve Never Heard of This
PBIS is a relatively recent behavior support system used in schools. Research on this program started being conducted in the early 2000s, but has appeared much more frequently in the last six years. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports in schools is a reinforcement-based program designed to be proactive rather than reactive.
Typically school expectations and rules are taught and reinforced regularly. These programs provide effective consequences rather than merely punitive reactions to problem behavior. Schools implementing PBIS programs also develop reward systems to help encourage positive behaviors by recognizing them. Staff involvement and the use of data in decision making are key to the success of these programs.
The body of research on PBIS shows that they contribute to a decline in problem behavior, including reductions in office discipline referrals and suspensions. These types of programs have also been linked to improved academic performance, better attendance, improved perception of school safety, reductions in bullying behavior, and the establishment of positive school cultures.
These types of programs were born out of the realization that a great deal of attention was being directed toward problem behaviors and addressing disciplinary issues was eating away at class time and disengaging students from learning activities. By shifting the focus from problem behavior and focusing on positive behaviors, schools are seeing an overall change in their school cultures.
PBIS is highly adaptable to different schools and school environments. The research-based principles easily adapt to the individual nature of different schools. More than that, this flexible program can grow and change with a school through the years.
