What is PBS?

Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) is based on understanding why problem behavior occurs - the behavior's function.  It is research-based and proven to reduce the occurence of problem behaviors in the school, resulting in a more positive school climate and increased academic performance.

In the past, schools generally focused on punishment for problem behaviors by suspending and giving expulsions to students that exhibited unwanted behaviors.   This method occurred after a behavior occured.  Rather than focusing on the negative and punishing the students, PBS is proactive by teaching the students what is expected at school. 

Here is an example that describes both the reactive and proactive methods:  Let's say my class has a terrible time of walking down the hallway.  They are loud, either too fast or too slow, and are not in a single line.  I have two choices. 

     1.  I could yell at them and say, "Geez, don't you know how to walk down a hallway?! If this keeps up, you will lose an entire recess!" (reactive)

                                          OR

     2.  I teach what I expect from the students in the hallway.  I tell them what "line basics" is and what it is not. Then, I could take my class out to the hallway to practice "line basics".  We will practice them over and over.  The next time I see my students walking down the hallway quietly, in single file, and at a nice pace, they will get rewarded with either praise or possibly a token. (proactive)

Which scenario would you prefer your child experience?!  :-)

PBS can occur on a school-wide level, a specific setting or classroom, or individual student.

On a school-wide level, PBS relies on accurate data from office referrals to understand the behaviors that are occuring in the building.  An analysis of the data allows the school behavior team to identify problem areas, brainstorm interventions (such as where and what to teach the students), reward the students who exhibit the expected behaviors, and look at the data again to see if the plan has helped decrease unwanted behaviors. 

On the classroom level, PBS relies on data taken by the classroom teacher.  The teacher looks at the problem behaviors that are occuring and then decide on how to teach the expectations to the students.  We teach children how to read, do math, write...so why not teach them how to behave properly too?

On an individual level, PBS uses functional behavior assessments (FBAs) to figure out the relationship between the student's behavior and the environment.  The FBA identifies multiple strategies to effectively reduce problem behavior. 

At Highland, our 3 expectations are:

          Be Respectful

          Be Responsible

          Be Caring

For further information on PBS, here are some great websites to visit:

Positive Behavioral Supports - Iowa:  http://www.educ.drake.edu/rc/alliance.html

Florida's Positive Behavior Support Project: http://flpbs.fmhi.usf.edu/index.asp

Illinois PBIS network:  http://www.pbisillinois.org/

PBIS Maryland:  http://www.pbismaryland.org/

Delaware PBS Project:  http://www.udel.edu/cds/pbs/