Iola teachers and administrators began a three-day training session Wednesday to learn how to encourage better behavior in students. Coming to Iola Branching out
The training enhances the district’s current module geared to promote a culture of positive reinforcement to good behavior.
“Schools need to teach behavior instead of punish behavior,” said Matt Enyart, assistant director of the Kansas Institute of Positive Behavior Support based out of the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
“Part of the process is changing the culture,” Enyart said.
Enyart provided an example of a behavioral situation in the classroom. If a child throws a book down when he is frustrated with a math problem, he might be sent to the principal’s office. Doing this might teach the child that if he acts out he can avoid doing an assignment, so he continues to misbehave.
“If we don’t change the environment, then bad behavior will continue to happen,” Enyart said.
A three-tiered model is used in the program to reach different groups of students.
The first level is called the universal interventions level and is geared for 80-90 percent of students.
The next level is group intervention and includes some at-risk students.
The third level, the top tier, is intensive, individual intervention and applies to 1-5 percent of students.
“Schools need to really have a foundation in place for the structure of the tiers,” said Cherie Blanchat, a research assistant with the PBS program.
Monitoring student’s behavior can help benefit them academically. PBS teaches and encourages administration and faculty to record and improve classroom behavior. Enyart said this program focuses on improving the quality of life and environment for students. Many schools have a zero tolerance system for misbehaving.
Kelly Francis introduced PBS to the Iola schools. Angie Linn, Curriculum Director for Iola, said Francis has been through the PBS intensive training support.
The Kansas Institute for Positive Behavior Support met with Iola administration in December to form their three-year plan. In April they addressed their progress.
“The administrative level support here is impressive,” Blanchat said. “I almost fell off of my feet when I saw how many people came and supported it.”
Data from each school building might be a little different. This is not a negative thing, according to Blanchat. The data PBS leaders gather from each semester can help them improve behavior in the classroom.
This system is intended to provide teachers with a support system in the classroom. All leaders for the program will be trained all three days. On Wednesday leaders reviewed the basics of the system and prepared to meet with their teams today and Friday.
Linn said there is a team district wide and then a team per school.
Behavior learning doesn’t just stop in the classroom. It is important for parents to understand the process as well. Schools can send out letters or flyers to parents so they are able to understand how behavior in the classroom is improving.
Many school districts within Southeast Kansas are in the early development stages of integrating PBS into everyday life. Enyart and Blanchat said that Iola will eventually be able to train others on how to incorporate PBS. Communities can learn fromPBS as well.
Enyart said that he hopes that one day a community can also say “we are a PBS community.”
To learn more about PBS and KIPBS visit www.pbskansas.org or www.kipbs.org
USD 257 ramps up behavior training
