Maximizing Effectiveness Using Positive Behavior Support Methods in the

Classroom:Teaching a Behavioral

Curriculum

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Objectives

• Understand the importance of a Behavioral Curriculum

• Develop a plan for teaching Expectations and Rules

• Establish a plan for when to teach Expectations and Rules

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Once you have developed classroom expectations, it is not enough to just post the words on

the walls of the classroom…

YOU MUST TEACH THEM!

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Behavior in the Classroom

More often Behavioral Errors in the classroom occur because:– Students do not have appropriate skills Students do not know when to use skills– Students have not been taught specific

classroom procedures and routines Skills are not taught in context

“If a child doesn’t know how to read, we teach.”

“If a child doesn’t know how to swim, we teach.”

“If a child doesn’t know how to multiply, we teach.”

“If a child doesn’t know how to drive, we teach.”

“If a child doesn’t know how to behave, we…

…teach? …punish?”

“Why can’t we finish the last sentence as automatically as we do the others?”

Tom Herner (NASDE President ) Counterpoint 1998, p.2

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Why Develop a Behavioral Curriculum?

• To proactively address skill deficits

• To facilitate a positive and unified classroom culture

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Two Levels of Instruction

Level 1: Concept Development (Expectations)– Broad expectations– Applicable to all settings– Developed at a school-wide level

Level 2: Skills (Rules)– Observable behaviors– Rules for specific settings

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Instruction Level 1

Concept Development (Expectations)– Broad expectations– Applicable to all settings– Developed at a school-wide level

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Guidelines for teaching concepts (expectations)?

Teach Like You Teach Academics:

1. Define in terms that students will understand2. List critical attributes3. Provide examples and non-examples4. Enhance concept development 5. Check for understanding6. Extend concept development7. Acknowledge efforts8. Re-teach and restructure teaching

Expectations and Rules:Ms. Apple’s Class

Expectations Rules

Be Respectful Listen to other’s ideasRaise your hand to share your ideas

Stay Safe Keep hands and feet to yourselfKeep all four chair legs on the floor

Achieve your Best Come to class prepared and ready to learn Complete all tasks to the best of your ability

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Sample Lesson Plan

1. Identify the concept: Respect

2. Define the concept and list critical attributes: To show concern or consideration: Behaviors that help people feel calmer, safer, friendlier, and more cooperative.

3. Use prior knowledge: Ask students to develop a list of 3-5 examples of respect. Examples can be written or drawn.

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Sample Lesson Plan

4. Enhance concept development: A. Allow students to share examples. B. Ask them to categorize examples by setting C. Role play examples.

5. Check for understanding: Present examples and non-examples. Have students identify the examples. Examples and non-examples can be presented in pictures or in writing.

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Sample Lesson Plan

6. Extend concept development:

– Identify examples and non-examples of the concept in stories and videos.

– Assign topics for journal entries related to the concept.

– Ask students to keep frequency counts of examples and non-examples observed in a television program. Graph the results.

– Discuss the benefits of increasing the frequency of respectful actions.

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Sample Lesson Plan

7. Acknowledge efforts:

• Students get a “Caught Showing Respect” ticket from back counter. They fill out their name, the date, and a brief description of the respectful behavior they observed in the classroom. Then they turn the ticket in to Ms. Apple. When Ms Apple has collected 50 “CSR” tickets the class earns a ice cream party.

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Embedding Concepts into Curriculum

Language Arts and Reading– Character analysis

• Examples and non-examples of behaviors that characterize classroom expectations

– Story mapping• Identification of setting, characters, problem(s), and

resolutions– Creative writing

• “What If” stories, new endings to stories, journal entries on selected topics

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Embedding Concepts into Curriculum

Math, Science, Social Studies – Data collection

• Frequency counts of specific behaviors• Graphing

– Goal setting• Establishing goals based on data collected

– Problem-solving• Determining contributing factors and potential

solutions• Developing and implementing a plan

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Strategies to Success

• Take time in the classroom to discuss concepts related to the classroom expectations.

• Link classroom expectations to other curriculum such as literature, multicultural information, and programs endorsed by Safe and Drug Free Schools, etc.

• Include strategies that can be used by families and the community to reinforce the understanding and use.

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Strategies to Success

• After developing the broad concepts, help students identify classroom applications

• Acknowledge student efforts

• Plan to adapt specific lessons if necessary

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Activity: Lesson Plans for Expectations

Using your school-wide expectations, develop a lesson plan on how you would teach them to your specific class.

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Instruction Level 2

Skills (Rules)– Observable behaviors– Rules for specific settings

Can I measure it?

Can I observe it?

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Guidelines for teaching classroom skills/rules

1. Review classroom expectations.2. Review the rationale and/or application cues

for the rules.3. Describe the specific, observable skill(s)

for the classroom and provide examples and non-examples.

4. Engage students in an activity that will allow them to practice the desired behavior.

5. Acknowledge appropriate behavior.

Expectations and Rules:Mr. Michael’s Class

Expectations Rules

Be Respectful of Self and Others Accept other’s thoughts and feelingsUse a positive voice and language

Follow Directions of all School Staff Complete all tasks to the best of your abilityRaise your hand to share your ideas

Stay Safe Stay in assigned areaKeep hands and feet to yourselfUse materials appropriately

Sample Lesson Plan

Topic: Classroom Rules for Respect: Accept other’s thoughts and feelings, and Use a positive voice and language

Goal: Students will understand and exhibit classroom rules independently

Specific Objectives: Students will understand the classroom rules for respect, be able to show examples and non-examples of respect, and practice respectful behavior in the class and across school campus

Required Materials: Use separate pieces of chart paper labeled at the top with the school-wide expectation, and markers

Step-by-Step Procedures:

•Students will review the examples and non-examples of respect and write these on the chart paper

•Students will talk about what respect looks like in the classroom and write these on the chart paper

•Students will get in groups and create skits depicting the classroom rules for displaying respectful and disrespectful behaviors in the classroom

Sample Lesson Plan

Extension Activity: Students will write position papers on why they think accepting other’s thoughts and feelings is important for the classroom morale or why they think it is not important.

Possible Connections: Students will start a monthly goal chart for the Tiger Tickets received as a class. Each month the class goal will increase

Plan for Independent Practice: Classroom mural - each student draws, on huge butcher block paper, pictures representing the rules for being respectful in the classroom. They mural will be posted in the classroom or hallway

Closure: Whole group discussion on classroom rules and how they tie into the school-wide expectations and rules

Evaluation: Have students pair up with a partner and categorize a list of actions into two piles: respectful actions and disrespectful actions

Adaptations (if needed): Provide a written copy of directions for Britney and Mary. Allow Britney to work with Billy and/or Sara

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Strategies to Success

• Describe specific, observable behaviors for each expectation

• Expect to model the desired behaviors

• Provide students with written and graphic cues in the setting where the behaviors are expected

• Acknowledge efforts• Plan to re-teach and restructure teaching• Allow students to participate in the development

process

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Strategies to Success

• Assist students in understanding the importance of proper behavior through role plays and simulations.

• Concepts should be taught and reinforced during academically focused lessons and through school-wide initiatives such as Character Education, Skill Streaming, etc.

Sopris West:CHAMPSStop and Think Program (multiple grade levels)Tough Kids Social Skills BookCool Kids K-3 and 3-8 

Committee for Children:Second Step:  A Violence Prevention Curriculum  

Jossey-Bass:Ready to Use Social Skills Lesson and Activities 1-6 & 7-12 

Research Press:

PASSPORT Program: A Journey Through Emotional, Social, Cognitive and Self-Development (multiple grade levels)Skill Streaming  (multiple grade levels)

Connecting with Others: Lessons for Teaching Social & Emotional Competencies (multiple grade levels)Thinking, Feeling, Behaving 1-6, 7-12Bully Busters (multiple grade levels)

Embedding Concepts and Skills within Social Skills Curriculum

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Activity: Lesson Plans for Rules

Using the format provided, develop a lesson plan for one of your classroom rules

Lesson

Plan: Rules

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____

______

____

______

____

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“I Love It When a Plan Comes Together”

MR. T, 1984

Plan A

Plan B

Guide for When/What/How to Teach

WEEK CRITICAL THEMES

ACTIVITIES EXTENSIONS

1 & 2 Teach/review School-wide Expectations & Common Area Rules

Whole Group Discussion: examples and non exampleJournal Assignments

Send home a miniature copy of school-wide poster

1st half of 3

Develop rules for specific expectations

Cooperative Groups: each group develops 2 rules for each expectation – share with whole group

For Homework: create a classroom poster for our new rules

2nd half of 3

Teach/review classroom procedures

Cooperative Groups: each group develops a skit to present to the whole class depicting examples and non examples of expectations

For Homework: write one paragraph on why rules are important in the class & community