As a school administrator, you know the importance of creating a positive and inclusive learning environment for your students. One way to achieve this is by implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in your school. PBIS is a framework that focuses on teaching students clear and consistent expectations for behavior, and providing them with the support and tools they need to meet those expectations. When implemented effectively, PBIS can make a significant impact on student behavior and success.
One of the most important aspects of effective PBIS implementation is setting clear behavioral expectations so that students know how to be their best selves. Let’s look at a few key ways to make this part of the process as successful as possible.
1. Make schoolwide PBIS expectations a priority
One of the key components of PBIS is the creation of a set of expectations that applies to all students and staff across the entire school. These expectations should be clearly stated and easy to understand, and should be communicated to everyone in the school community. Involving stakeholders such as students, parents, and teachers in the process of creating these expectations can help ensure that they are meaningful and relevant to the school community.
One way to organize and communicate these expectations is through the use of a PBIS expectations matrix. This matrix can be displayed prominently in the school, and can serve as a reference for both students and staff. It can also be used to track and support student behavior in the classroom.
2. Implement PBIS in the classroom
Once the schoolwide PBIS expectations have been established, it’s important for teachers to align their own classroom expectations with these expectations. This can help ensure that students receive consistent messages about what is expected of them, regardless of which teacher they’re with.
Teachers can use a variety of strategies to teach and reinforce PBIS expectations in the classroom, such as modeling desired behaviors, providing explicit instruction, and offering positive reinforcement when students meet the expectations. The use of a PBIS matrix can also be helpful in tracking and supporting student behavior in the classroom.
3. Support PBIS in the school community
In order for PBIS to be effective, it’s important for the entire school community to support it. This includes parents and caregivers, who can help reinforce PBIS expectations at home. Ongoing professional development for teachers and staff is also crucial in ensuring that PBIS is implemented effectively.
Recognizing and rewarding students for meeting PBIS expectations is also an important part of supporting PBIS in the school community. This can take many forms, such as verbal praise, stickers, or other rewards.
PBIS: A valuable framework for creating positive learning environments
PBIS is a valuable framework that schools can use to create positive and inclusive learning environments for their students. By setting clear and consistent expectations, teaching and reinforcing these expectations in the classroom, and involving the entire school community in supporting PBIS, schools can help their students develop the skills they need to be successful. We encourage school administrators to consider implementing PBIS in their schools and incorporating it into their schoolwide expectations and policies.
Photo credit: Google Education
School & District Leadership