Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports

PBIS is a comprehensive and coherent system that is built on evidence-based practices and is aligned with research on effective teaching and learning. This is why PBIS has been widely adopted across the world. It is a whole-school approach that promotes the development of positive social behaviors, academic achievement, and emotional functioning.

As a positive approach, PBIS is based on the simple premise that if students are taught and encouraged to behave positively, they are more likely to do so. PBIS ensures that schools focus on creating a positive school climate, which is an essential element of any effective approach to school-wide behavior management.

PBIS is designed to help schools to identify the expectations they have for student behavior and provide clear and concise consequences for all students. An effective PBIS system includes teaching behavioral expectations, reinforcing positive behavior, imposing consistent consequences for inappropriate behavior – and using data to guide decision-making.

One fundamental element of PBIS involves teaching behavioral expectations explicitly. Teachers and other school staff should work together to develop universal expectations that apply to all students in all settings. These expectations should be posted visibly in the school and regularly taught to all students, including new students or staff members.

PBIS also values positive reinforcement as a key component to promoting good behavior. Teachers should actively reinforce good behavior whenever possible, through praise, reward systems, or other positive recognition techniques. By doing so, students will feel reinforced and more likely to continue to exhibit good behaviors.

However, PBIS also understands that negative behavior will occur. Therefore, having clear and consistent consequences for negative behaviors is necessary as well. Consequences should be directly associated with the unacceptable behavior and should be proportional to the offense committed, while also providing specific opportunities for the student to learn from their mistake.

Lastly, the use of data is a critical component of PBIS. Schools must continuously monitor student behavior data to create, modify, and evaluate their PBIS system. Data should be used to identify and address areas of concern, to recognize success, and to guide decision-making.

In summary, educators who implement PBIS strategies find that they have a positive impact on creating a safe and enjoyable learning environment. Positive Behavior interventions and supports help students by creating a supportive culture, focusing on positive expectations, acknowledging student progress, and providing consistent rewards for appropriate behavior.

By creating a safe and supportive school climate that prioritizes positive behavior, we are teaching our children to value themselves, each other, and the world around them. This approach helps create an atmosphere in which students develop positive behavior and establish a compelling relationship with their school, which is essential to their academic and social success. By building upon the use of PBIS, we embrace a culture of positivity that will lead to a brighter future for everyone.