PBIS seems to be the new thing everyone is talking about in schools, and even though it can be a popular topic of discussion, it is sometimes difficult to know what it really is. PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and its goal is to replace punishment with support and encouragement. Our Monterey County schools are at different stages of PBIS implementation and these changes are really changing how students respond in school.
PBIS has three different tiers: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3.
- Tier 1 supports consist of classroom and/or school wide interventions to promote a more supportive and welcoming school environment.
- Tier 2 supports consist of small group interventions and it is delivered to fewer children as most children have their needs met with Tier 1 support.
- Tier 3 supports consist of individual interventions. These interventions tend to be more intensive and created to fit the specific needs of the individual child. Even fewer children will need to utilize tier 3 supports.
Our Harmony at Home counselors support PBIS in our schools by providing a Tier 2 and 3 counseling interventions through our individual and group counseling services. We also help to support teachers in providing them with Tier 1 PBIS interventions to use in the classroom so that the work students do in counseling can be supported in the classroom.
Here is a great video to learn about the basics of PBIS:
What are some simple Tier 1 PBIS interventions to try out?
- Use a behavioral chart in your classroom or at home. This can help children visualize how their behavior is for the day. Everyone starts at green, ready to learn, and can move up or down as the day continues.
- Recognize children when they do something positive, even if it is something small.
- Set daily goals for behavior, and reward the student when they achieve their goal.
- Allow children to take breaks when they become overwhelmed so that they can self-regulate and start fresh.
- Set clear and consistent expectations for children to follow.
- Give children choices so that they feel they have some control.
- Talk in calm tones, do not yell. Also, talk to students about challenging behaviors in a private setting instead of in front of peers.
If you’d like more ideas about PBIS interventions, visit http://www.pbisworld.com/. They provide ideas for interventions for all three tiers of PBIS and you can also search for interventions based on behaviors you are seeing.
