PBIS
What is PBIS?
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a program that explicitly teaches students about behaviors in different school situations. It is based on learning rather than punishment and ensures that all students have access to the most effective instruction. Students are expected to be responsible for their own actions regardless of the actions of others.
The foundation of PBIS rests on these 3 principles:
BE SAFE BE RESPECTFUL BE RESPONSIBLE
PBIS schools have clearly outlined expectations and explicitly teach those expectations to their students. Expectations of student behavior are outlined in the Link School Expected Behavior Matrix.
Positive Paws for Positive Reinforcement
Students who follow a set behavioral expectation at Link school may receive a “positive paw ticket.” These blue tickets are given to them by any staff member. Additionally, lunch supervisors, substitute teachers, and bus drivers have gold tickets that they distribute. Students work on collecting these tickets in order to build a picture of Leo the Lion in their classrooms. Once a classroom puzzle is finished, the students in that room are able to decide what type of classroom celebration they would like. Along with small classroom celebrations, the students celebrate positive behaviors as a whole school. These celebrations take place when 80% of the classrooms have finished Leo the Lion puzzles.
Classroom Instruction
The idea behind PBIS is that we need to teach our students behavior expectations. The PBIS team and classroom teachers teach and reinforce these school expectations throughout the year with videos and classroom lessons. These lessons of proper behavior are called “cool tools.” Students are given the opportunity to practice what is expected of them in the different school environments.