Kate Nichols, PhD, BCBA-D
Director, McDowell Institute
Bloomsburg University of PA
May 22, 2013
▪ Preventing Behavior Problems
▪ Functions of Behavior

▪ Responding to Behavior Problems
▪  Focus on teaching appropriate behavior
▪  Create safe, consistent environment that allows all students to be successful
academically, behaviorally, and socially
▪  Associated with higher academic achievement 
▪  Attributed to greater sense of efficacy by teachers
Positive Classroom Climate
▪ 3-5 Positively-Stated Expectations for Behavior 
– Describe what students SHOULD be doing
– Rules need to be taught throughout the school year
– Students need to be acknowledged when they are exhibiting
expected behaviors
▪ Behavior Management Environment
–  Post reminders of rules, procedures, and reinforcement systems, and be
consistent in implementing and enforcing all of these
–  Teach the consequences for rule violations and review as needed
–  Respond to rule violations consistently, following predetermined consequences
–  Refrain from arguing with students about rule violations
▪ Behavior Management Environment
–  Ensure that students earn reinforcement regularly and consistently
–  Engage in systematic problem-solving process if students are not successfully earning reinforcers
–  Listen carefully to students and acknowledge student concerns and complaints
–  Ensure a safe, positive, learning climate
–  Learn early warning signs for behavioral problems and intervene early and quickly when problems
arise to prevent escalation
▪ Provide a choice of how or when a task will be completed 
–  Explain 3 activities. Allow the student(s) to pick the activity they wish to start with;
student has to complete all 3 tasks, but in what ever order he/she chooses
–  Allow choice of the medium with which students work (e.g., paper/pencil vs. computer)
–  Let the group vote on which activity to do first
▪ Before a Task
–  When they will do a task
–  What to do after assignment is
completed
–  How long to work before taking a
break
–  Which materials to use (e.g., pencil or
pen, paper or computer)
▪ During the Task
–  Order to complete multiple tasks
–  Which peers to work with
–  How to get teacher’s attention while
working
–  Where to complete task (desk, floor,
table)
–  Manner in which to complete task
(last question first, top to bottom)
▪ Chunking Instruction
–  Provide shorter periods rather than one long period of instruction or assignments.
–  Students meet the expectations, just in a modified manner and experience more
frequent success
▪ High Probability Requests
–  Reduces the likelihood of noncompliance by generating behavioral momentum by
mixing easier, known, mastered, or shorter tasks amongst more difficult, unknown, or
longer tasks
–  Start with 2-3 activities that students are 70% likely comply with and reinforce
each instance of compliance 
–  The difficult request should be delivered within 5 seconds of the last successful high
probability request
–  Vary the high probability requests (i.e., develop a pool of requests)
Reinforcement
Reinforcement
	
  ▪  Increases the likelihood of a
behavior occurring again
▪  Teaches students that they are
performing as desired

▪  Can result in long-term learning
and change
Punishment
▪  Used to stop a highly disruptive
behavior
▪  Does not teach students how to
exhibit desired behaviors
▪  Will not result in change in behavior
unless an acceptable behavior is
taught and reinforced
▪  Prevent students from participating
in learning activities
▪  May be actually reinforcing the
misbehavior
▪ Praise (Catch Students Being “Good”)
– We spend a lot of time responding to students’
inappropriate behaviors and not their appropriate behaviors.
▪ Even the “worst” students do something appropriate throughout the
day
– Constantly look for students’ appropriate behavior, then
acknowledge their efforts by applying positive attention (e.g.,
Provide a description of the appropriate behaviors)
▪  4 to 1 ratio, four positive statements for each redirection provided to a
student
• Privileges
• Praise	
  needs	
  to	
  be	
  tied	
  with	
  some	
  sort	
  of	
  tangible	
  reinforcement	
  to	
  
be	
  effective	
  for	
  most	
  students	
  
•  Rather	
  than	
  handing	
  out	
  prizes,	
  identify	
  privileges	
  students	
  can	
  earn	
  
	
  
Functions of Behavior
▪  All behavior is a form of communication
▪  All behavior serves a purpose (function of the behavior)
▪  In order to change a behavior, a person must learn a new
behavior that fulfills a similar purpose as the undesirable behavior
▪  Gain access to or escape from …
–  Peer/Adult Attention (can be negative or positive)
–  Activities/Tasks
▪  Student sits in hallway and does not have to read aloud
▪  Student goes to the office and principal lets her run errands
–  Tangibles
▪  Student gets his pencil back from another student
▪  Student does not have to eat her peas
–  Sensory
▪  Student sits in hallway & leaves the bright light in the classroom
▪  Student gets to sleep while in time-out
Gain Access 
 

▪  Classmates laugh when student
makes noises
▪  Teacher talks to student when he
misbehaves
▪  Student says something negative to
another student to get a response
▪  Student constantly raising hand and
asking for help
▪  Student hits peer to get a reaction
Escape/Avoid
▪  Student plays by himself at recess
▪  Student screams when classmate sits
near her
▪  Student won’t make eye contact with
adult while being reprimanded
Gain Access 
 

▪  Take markers off teacher’s desk
▪  Snatch a toy from classmate
▪  Cut in line
▪  Cry, beg, repeatedly ask for a
preferred item
▪  Student goes to the office and
principal lets her run errands

Escape/Avoid
▪  Student plays by himself at recess
▪  Student says she has a stomachache
▪  Student refuses to line up for Music
class 
▪  Student sits in hallway and does not
have to read aloud
Gain Access 
 

▪  Pencil Tapping
▪  Humming to self
▪  Biting nails/chewing pencil
▪  Repetitive movements (rocking,
flicking objects/fingers)
Escape/Avoid
▪  Covering ears
▪  Putting head down
▪  Squinting
Some behaviors do not depend on the action of others to provide an outcome
because they produce their own reinforcement (automatic R+). In other words, it
feels good.
▪  When a student is engaging in a chronic misbehavior, identify an appropriate
replacement behavior that meets the same need (i.e., seeking attention, avoiding
work)
▪  Create a plan to be implemented by all staff to increase demonstration of appropriate
behavior rather than focusing on decreasing inappropriate behavior
Target Behavior: Tearing up assignment when frustrated
Replacement
Behavior:
Request assistance by raising hand using “I need help signal” and wait appropriately
until an adult can come over and help
Consequence
for Replacement
Behavior:
Respond promptly to student employing “I need help signal.” Praise student for
requesting help appropriately and waiting. Assist student with continuing with
assignment and check on student periodically to ensure on-task behaviors
▪ Proximity
– Use your presence as a signal to students to keep on task
▪ Become a wandering social reinforcer
▪ Research demonstrates that teacher proximity is inversely related to student
misbehavior
▪ Systematic Supervision
–  Actively supervise classroom and non-classroom settings
•  Scanning, moving, interacting with students
▪ Creating a Transition Routine
– Problematic transition behaviors can take away valuable
instruction time
– The use of instructional visual cues is effective in
increasing appropriate transition behavior
– Provide precorrection for common issues
▪ Providing Rule Reminders 
– Prior to students enter a setting or begin to engage in an activity that may
have an increase in problem behaviors
▪ Verbal prompts: rule reminders or descriptions of the desired behavior
▪ Nonverbal prompts: gestures or demonstrations of the appropriate behavior
▪ Verbal and visual reminders of rewards available
Be Non-emotional & Avoid Coercion
•  QTIP: Quit Taking It Personally
•  Coercion is when you try to restrain,
repress, compel, or enforce someone. 
▪  Questioning, Arguing
▪  Sarcasm/teasing, Force (verbal & physical)
▪  Threats, Criticism
▪  Despair, Logic
▪  Telling on them to others, One-ups-manship
▪  Silent treatment
Power Struggle
Student	
  Gets	
  Attention	
  
for	
  Inappropriate	
  
Behavior	
  
Student	
  Tries	
  to	
  Avoid	
  
Coercion	
  
Student	
  Tries	
  to	
  Get	
  
Even	
  
Student	
  Tries	
  to	
  Escape	
  
the	
  Situation	
  
▪ Pivoting Attention
–  Carefully ignore the inappropriate behavior/junk behavior of one student while reinforcing
the appropriate behavior of another student 
▪  Don’t say anything about the junk behavior (“Stop that now!” or “Quit that!”) or do anything differently
when the junk behavior happens (react, roll eyes, stomp out of room, cross your arms, stare, etc.). 
–  Immediately reinforce or give a positive consequence for an appropriate behavior of student
near misbehaving student(praise, touch, item/thing, privilege)
–  Teaches the first student what behaviors (appropriate) will get your attention
–  As soon as misbehaving student corrects behavior, give immediate praise for appropriate
behavior
▪ Even if a student shows some junk behavior while acting appropriately, ignore
the junk behavior and provide positive consequences for the appropriate
behavior. 
▪ Always focus on the positive. (“I really like the way you sit quietly.” versus “I’m
glad you stopped making so much noise.”)
– If you state the junk behavior, they know you weren’t ignoring it.
▪ You do not have to continue giving positive consequences for the appropriate
behavior of the second student while waiting for the junk behavior of the first
student to stop.
▪ Extinction Burst
–  Some	
  behavior	
  gets	
  worse	
  for	
  a	
  short	
  while,	
  before	
  it	
  gets	
  better 	
  	
  
–  Student	
  is	
  testing	
  your	
  commitment	
  to	
  not	
  responding	
  to	
  misbehavior	
  
–  If	
  you	
  simply	
  ignore	
  junk	
  behavior,	
  it	
  will	
  not	
  necessarily	
  go	
  away.	
  	
  You	
  MUST	
  
ignore	
  junk	
  and	
  give	
  a	
  positive	
  consequence	
  to	
  the	
  more	
  appropriate	
  behavior.	
  
▪  If	
  you	
  do	
  this,	
  then	
  the	
  extinction	
  burst	
  may	
  be	
  very	
  brief	
  or	
  not	
  happen	
  at	
  all.	
  	
  The	
  key	
  to	
  this	
  is	
  
providing	
  more	
  attention	
  for	
  appropriate	
  behaviors	
  than	
  you	
  did	
  before	
  you	
  started	
  ignoring.	
  	
  
	
  
▪ De-escalation
–  If you see a student’s behavior begin to escalate to a more serious and potentially dangerous
behavior
▪  Interrupt the behavior chain (warning signs that the student is going to “explode”) and intervene by redirecting
or helping the student complete the task

Example: Jaime gets frustrated when doing math work. He will begin to whine, mutter under his
breath, then tear up the paper and finally begin throwing things in the room
▪  Intervene during the whining. Prompt him to request help, sit near him, initiate “I do, we do, you do.” Praise
Jaime for beginning independent work, maintain proximity with him while supervising class and provide frequent
positive feedback.
▪ Students are Off-task
–  Precorrection: remind group about large group procedures
–  Call on student sitting near inattentive student(s) to draw their attention
–  Walk around classroom while instructing (systematic supervision)
–  Proximity control: Stand near off task student without giving them attention
–  Ensure student(s) have the necessary pre-requisite skills
▪ Students are off task
–  Reinforce on task students (pivot attention)
–  Preteach procedures for obtaining teacher assistance, what to do when task is completed,
where to get additional materials, etc.
–  Ensure tasks are those that the students have already demonstrated 80% accuracy during
initial instruction 
▪ Students are loud working together
–  Teach appropriate volume and movement while in small groups
–  Reinforce quiet working and on-task behavior
▪  Student refuses to work or interferes with other students’ learning
–  Review independent work procedures
–  Reinforce appropriate behaviors
–  Schedule brief review session before beginning work
–  Check student progress and accuracy
▪  Student rushes through work making mistakes
–  Reinforce completing the task accurately
–  Make sure the student has pre-requisite skills
▪  Student does not ask for help or asks for help too often
–  Teach student when and how to ask for help
–  Increase attention for on task behavior
–  Reinforce students for appropriately asking for help
 
	
  
Presentation and materials are available at
http://bloomu.edu/mcdowell-resources

Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Supports

  • 1.
    Kate Nichols, PhD,BCBA-D Director, McDowell Institute Bloomsburg University of PA May 22, 2013
  • 2.
    ▪ Preventing Behavior Problems ▪ Functionsof Behavior ▪ Responding to Behavior Problems
  • 3.
    ▪  Focus onteaching appropriate behavior ▪  Create safe, consistent environment that allows all students to be successful academically, behaviorally, and socially ▪  Associated with higher academic achievement ▪  Attributed to greater sense of efficacy by teachers
  • 4.
  • 5.
    ▪ 3-5 Positively-Stated Expectationsfor Behavior – Describe what students SHOULD be doing – Rules need to be taught throughout the school year – Students need to be acknowledged when they are exhibiting expected behaviors
  • 6.
    ▪ Behavior Management Environment – Post reminders of rules, procedures, and reinforcement systems, and be consistent in implementing and enforcing all of these –  Teach the consequences for rule violations and review as needed –  Respond to rule violations consistently, following predetermined consequences –  Refrain from arguing with students about rule violations
  • 7.
    ▪ Behavior Management Environment – Ensure that students earn reinforcement regularly and consistently –  Engage in systematic problem-solving process if students are not successfully earning reinforcers –  Listen carefully to students and acknowledge student concerns and complaints –  Ensure a safe, positive, learning climate –  Learn early warning signs for behavioral problems and intervene early and quickly when problems arise to prevent escalation
  • 8.
    ▪ Provide a choiceof how or when a task will be completed –  Explain 3 activities. Allow the student(s) to pick the activity they wish to start with; student has to complete all 3 tasks, but in what ever order he/she chooses –  Allow choice of the medium with which students work (e.g., paper/pencil vs. computer) –  Let the group vote on which activity to do first
  • 9.
    ▪ Before a Task – When they will do a task –  What to do after assignment is completed –  How long to work before taking a break –  Which materials to use (e.g., pencil or pen, paper or computer) ▪ During the Task –  Order to complete multiple tasks –  Which peers to work with –  How to get teacher’s attention while working –  Where to complete task (desk, floor, table) –  Manner in which to complete task (last question first, top to bottom)
  • 10.
    ▪ Chunking Instruction –  Provideshorter periods rather than one long period of instruction or assignments. –  Students meet the expectations, just in a modified manner and experience more frequent success
  • 11.
    ▪ High Probability Requests – Reduces the likelihood of noncompliance by generating behavioral momentum by mixing easier, known, mastered, or shorter tasks amongst more difficult, unknown, or longer tasks –  Start with 2-3 activities that students are 70% likely comply with and reinforce each instance of compliance –  The difficult request should be delivered within 5 seconds of the last successful high probability request –  Vary the high probability requests (i.e., develop a pool of requests)
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Reinforcement  ▪  Increasesthe likelihood of a behavior occurring again ▪  Teaches students that they are performing as desired ▪  Can result in long-term learning and change Punishment ▪  Used to stop a highly disruptive behavior ▪  Does not teach students how to exhibit desired behaviors ▪  Will not result in change in behavior unless an acceptable behavior is taught and reinforced ▪  Prevent students from participating in learning activities ▪  May be actually reinforcing the misbehavior
  • 14.
    ▪ Praise (Catch StudentsBeing “Good”) – We spend a lot of time responding to students’ inappropriate behaviors and not their appropriate behaviors. ▪ Even the “worst” students do something appropriate throughout the day – Constantly look for students’ appropriate behavior, then acknowledge their efforts by applying positive attention (e.g., Provide a description of the appropriate behaviors) ▪  4 to 1 ratio, four positive statements for each redirection provided to a student
  • 15.
    • Privileges • Praise  needs  to  be  tied  with  some  sort  of  tangible  reinforcement  to   be  effective  for  most  students   •  Rather  than  handing  out  prizes,  identify  privileges  students  can  earn    
  • 16.
  • 17.
    ▪  All behavioris a form of communication ▪  All behavior serves a purpose (function of the behavior) ▪  In order to change a behavior, a person must learn a new behavior that fulfills a similar purpose as the undesirable behavior ▪  Gain access to or escape from … –  Peer/Adult Attention (can be negative or positive) –  Activities/Tasks ▪  Student sits in hallway and does not have to read aloud ▪  Student goes to the office and principal lets her run errands –  Tangibles ▪  Student gets his pencil back from another student ▪  Student does not have to eat her peas –  Sensory ▪  Student sits in hallway & leaves the bright light in the classroom ▪  Student gets to sleep while in time-out
  • 18.
    Gain Access ▪  Classmates laugh when student makes noises ▪  Teacher talks to student when he misbehaves ▪  Student says something negative to another student to get a response ▪  Student constantly raising hand and asking for help ▪  Student hits peer to get a reaction Escape/Avoid ▪  Student plays by himself at recess ▪  Student screams when classmate sits near her ▪  Student won’t make eye contact with adult while being reprimanded
  • 19.
    Gain Access ▪  Take markers off teacher’s desk ▪  Snatch a toy from classmate ▪  Cut in line ▪  Cry, beg, repeatedly ask for a preferred item ▪  Student goes to the office and principal lets her run errands Escape/Avoid ▪  Student plays by himself at recess ▪  Student says she has a stomachache ▪  Student refuses to line up for Music class ▪  Student sits in hallway and does not have to read aloud
  • 20.
    Gain Access ▪  Pencil Tapping ▪  Humming to self ▪  Biting nails/chewing pencil ▪  Repetitive movements (rocking, flicking objects/fingers) Escape/Avoid ▪  Covering ears ▪  Putting head down ▪  Squinting Some behaviors do not depend on the action of others to provide an outcome because they produce their own reinforcement (automatic R+). In other words, it feels good.
  • 21.
    ▪  When astudent is engaging in a chronic misbehavior, identify an appropriate replacement behavior that meets the same need (i.e., seeking attention, avoiding work) ▪  Create a plan to be implemented by all staff to increase demonstration of appropriate behavior rather than focusing on decreasing inappropriate behavior Target Behavior: Tearing up assignment when frustrated Replacement Behavior: Request assistance by raising hand using “I need help signal” and wait appropriately until an adult can come over and help Consequence for Replacement Behavior: Respond promptly to student employing “I need help signal.” Praise student for requesting help appropriately and waiting. Assist student with continuing with assignment and check on student periodically to ensure on-task behaviors
  • 23.
    ▪ Proximity – Use your presenceas a signal to students to keep on task ▪ Become a wandering social reinforcer ▪ Research demonstrates that teacher proximity is inversely related to student misbehavior ▪ Systematic Supervision –  Actively supervise classroom and non-classroom settings •  Scanning, moving, interacting with students
  • 24.
    ▪ Creating a TransitionRoutine – Problematic transition behaviors can take away valuable instruction time – The use of instructional visual cues is effective in increasing appropriate transition behavior – Provide precorrection for common issues
  • 25.
    ▪ Providing Rule Reminders – Prior to students enter a setting or begin to engage in an activity that may have an increase in problem behaviors ▪ Verbal prompts: rule reminders or descriptions of the desired behavior ▪ Nonverbal prompts: gestures or demonstrations of the appropriate behavior ▪ Verbal and visual reminders of rewards available
  • 27.
    Be Non-emotional &Avoid Coercion •  QTIP: Quit Taking It Personally •  Coercion is when you try to restrain, repress, compel, or enforce someone. ▪  Questioning, Arguing ▪  Sarcasm/teasing, Force (verbal & physical) ▪  Threats, Criticism ▪  Despair, Logic ▪  Telling on them to others, One-ups-manship ▪  Silent treatment Power Struggle Student  Gets  Attention   for  Inappropriate   Behavior   Student  Tries  to  Avoid   Coercion   Student  Tries  to  Get   Even   Student  Tries  to  Escape   the  Situation  
  • 28.
    ▪ Pivoting Attention –  Carefullyignore the inappropriate behavior/junk behavior of one student while reinforcing the appropriate behavior of another student ▪  Don’t say anything about the junk behavior (“Stop that now!” or “Quit that!”) or do anything differently when the junk behavior happens (react, roll eyes, stomp out of room, cross your arms, stare, etc.). –  Immediately reinforce or give a positive consequence for an appropriate behavior of student near misbehaving student(praise, touch, item/thing, privilege) –  Teaches the first student what behaviors (appropriate) will get your attention –  As soon as misbehaving student corrects behavior, give immediate praise for appropriate behavior
  • 29.
    ▪ Even if astudent shows some junk behavior while acting appropriately, ignore the junk behavior and provide positive consequences for the appropriate behavior. ▪ Always focus on the positive. (“I really like the way you sit quietly.” versus “I’m glad you stopped making so much noise.”) – If you state the junk behavior, they know you weren’t ignoring it. ▪ You do not have to continue giving positive consequences for the appropriate behavior of the second student while waiting for the junk behavior of the first student to stop.
  • 30.
    ▪ Extinction Burst –  Some  behavior  gets  worse  for  a  short  while,  before  it  gets  better     –  Student  is  testing  your  commitment  to  not  responding  to  misbehavior   –  If  you  simply  ignore  junk  behavior,  it  will  not  necessarily  go  away.    You  MUST   ignore  junk  and  give  a  positive  consequence  to  the  more  appropriate  behavior.   ▪  If  you  do  this,  then  the  extinction  burst  may  be  very  brief  or  not  happen  at  all.    The  key  to  this  is   providing  more  attention  for  appropriate  behaviors  than  you  did  before  you  started  ignoring.      
  • 31.
    ▪ De-escalation –  If yousee a student’s behavior begin to escalate to a more serious and potentially dangerous behavior ▪  Interrupt the behavior chain (warning signs that the student is going to “explode”) and intervene by redirecting or helping the student complete the task Example: Jaime gets frustrated when doing math work. He will begin to whine, mutter under his breath, then tear up the paper and finally begin throwing things in the room ▪  Intervene during the whining. Prompt him to request help, sit near him, initiate “I do, we do, you do.” Praise Jaime for beginning independent work, maintain proximity with him while supervising class and provide frequent positive feedback.
  • 33.
    ▪ Students are Off-task – Precorrection: remind group about large group procedures –  Call on student sitting near inattentive student(s) to draw their attention –  Walk around classroom while instructing (systematic supervision) –  Proximity control: Stand near off task student without giving them attention –  Ensure student(s) have the necessary pre-requisite skills
  • 34.
    ▪ Students are offtask –  Reinforce on task students (pivot attention) –  Preteach procedures for obtaining teacher assistance, what to do when task is completed, where to get additional materials, etc. –  Ensure tasks are those that the students have already demonstrated 80% accuracy during initial instruction ▪ Students are loud working together –  Teach appropriate volume and movement while in small groups –  Reinforce quiet working and on-task behavior
  • 35.
    ▪  Student refusesto work or interferes with other students’ learning –  Review independent work procedures –  Reinforce appropriate behaviors –  Schedule brief review session before beginning work –  Check student progress and accuracy ▪  Student rushes through work making mistakes –  Reinforce completing the task accurately –  Make sure the student has pre-requisite skills ▪  Student does not ask for help or asks for help too often –  Teach student when and how to ask for help –  Increase attention for on task behavior –  Reinforce students for appropriately asking for help
  • 36.
        Presentation andmaterials are available at http://bloomu.edu/mcdowell-resources