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Acknowledgement Systems: Catch ‘em being Good

Acknowledgement Systems: Catch ‘em being Good. Chris Borgmeier, PhD Portland State University cborgmei@pdx.edu www.web.pdx.edu/~cborgmei. PBS: Defining Features. Teaching Expected Behavior

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Acknowledgement Systems: Catch ‘em being Good

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  1. Acknowledgement Systems:Catch ‘em being Good Chris Borgmeier, PhD Portland State University cborgmei@pdx.edu www.web.pdx.edu/~cborgmei

  2. PBS: Defining Features Teaching Expected Behavior • Increase Structure and Predictability by explicitly teaching Behavioral Expectations and Routines. • Reduce the mystery and chaos by making expectations explicit through formal teaching • Develop a “United Front” across all staff through consistent language & expectations • Increased Structure = Decreased Chaos = Fewer Problems

  3. PBS: Defining Features • Reinforcing Expected Behavior • Teaching alone is not enough, we also need to regularly Reinforce students for following expectations • Improving the School Climate • By increasing the number of Positive Interactions between staff and students we are improving the school climate.

  4. Acknowledgment Systems • Purpose: • To reinforce school rules, behavioral expectations & positive behavior • Promote a more positive school environment • School-wide 5:1 positive/negative interaction ratio • Regular school-wide celebration of positive behavior • Increase positive interactions b/w staff & students • Prompt busy adults to remember to reinforce positive behavior

  5. FAILURE SUCCESS Positive Behavior Support is…. What parents, teachers, peers and others do to increase student success---the whole village! 5 : 1

  6. Acknowledgment Systems • Big pay-off for limited expense • Immediate reinforcement with tokens that are accessible to all students • Link with school wide celebration of positive behavior • Lottery system helps to keep incentives cheap • Lot of kids have chance to win… but pay out is cheap • Small tangible rewards • Public recognition is often powerful • Make the program catchy – link with school rules &/or school mascot • Cougar paws, Pawsitives, Starbucks, Bravo tickets, etc.

  7. To consider when developing an acknowledgment ticket • Must be Easy for Staff to use • Limit writing, and make easy to carry around - fit in pocket • If not easy to use & carry, it won’t be used • Frequent feedback for students • All staff should have tickets • ALL students should be able to access tickets & acknowledgment, even those students with most challenging behavior • At least 50% of the students should get acknowledged every 2 months

  8. Train staff how to hand out Acknowledgments • “Sergio, thank you for picking up Jackie’s book for her you are being very Respectful. I want to recognize your good behavior with a Caught Being Good ticket, I really appreciate it when you follow the school rules.” • Always pair the ticket with a verbal explanation that is genuine, clear & specifically identifies the behavior • Link with school rule • It is best to provide the ticket immediately after the student engages in the behavior

  9. Acknowledgement Assemblies • Part of regular school routine • Acknowledgment assemblies should happen every two weeks • Be Creative! • System & reinforcers must be developmentally appropriate • across elementary, MS & HS

  10. Elementary Usually any trinkets paired with public recognition Toys School supplies Bubble parties Middle & High School Homework pass Discounts at school store Tickets to school dance Time w/ peers Pizza party Social & listen to music Lunch w/ staff Staff serve spaghetti dinner In-school movie Early release from class Class parties or cultural events Movie tickets Reinforcer Ideas

  11. Websites/ Resources • www.pbis.org • Under on-line library • Freebies • http://www.kipbs.lsi.ku.edu/freebies2003/freebies.htm

  12. Acknowledgment System • What is the token going to look like? • How are we going to train staff & students to use the tickets? • How & where will tickets be turned in? • What is the schedule for Acknowledgment assembly? • How will the acknowledgment celebration/assembly work? • What reinforcers will be handed out to selected students at the acknowledgment celebration/assemblies?

  13. Focus of Acknowledgment System • Beginning of year • Heavy emphasis on reinforcing all school rules & expectations • As year progresses, and specific areas of concern come up in the school • Can begin to target specific behaviors or areas in which to more heavily focus use of acknowledgment system • i.e. hallway behavior, appropriate language, etc. • Returning from breaks, or entering months in which there were higher referrals in previous years • May want to re-teach expectations & remind staff to boost up use of acknowledgments

  14. Increasing Staff Buy-In • Link incentive program w/ staff incentives • Also recognize staff for using program w/ incentives • Have staff acknowledgement system • Also acknowledge staff when students is drawn • Staff Incentive ideas • Starbucks dollars • Free hour ticket to cash in for principal to cover class • Front parking spot for week/month

  15. Frequently Asked Questions • Should we track Positive Referrals? • Track it broadly, not individually • Are teachers going through enough referral pads? • Are grade levels invested in the system? • How many should be given out? • Better to err on the side of more than less • Need to be genuine & verbally paired w/ reason, not handed out indiscriminately

  16. Frequently Asked Questions • Shouldn’t students be expected to do these things without being rewarded? • Sure, BUT students are bringing a varied set of experiences and skills to school, unfortunately some students may not get enough acknowledgment at home • How many of you feel you get acknowledged often enough for the work you do? • This system should not replace regular verbal praise and pats on the back for students …all this system provides in addition for most students is a small piece of paper • This system is as much to help remind the adults to catch kids doing the right thing in school… we get busy and too often get caught up focusing on predominantly negative behavior • (5 to 1 ratio)

  17. School-wide Foundation • It is important that an Acknowledgment system is accessible to ALL students all the time • Schools can also have other systems for recognizing students • Classroom reward system in addition to school-wide system • Incentives for most responsible class in cafeteria • Class clean bathroom award • Perfect attendance • Honor Roll

  18. Tasks Develop or refine your Acknowledgment System • Develop a process for the Acknowledgment System • How to give out & collect acknowledgment slips • Develop & distribute acknowledgement slip • Develop an Acknowledgment assembly schedule & plan assemblies • Develop a list of Reinforcers • Collect reinforcers • Train staff in details of how system will work Follow-up Tasks • Finalized SW PBS team & meeting schedule • Developing Expectations Grid • Developing Lesson Plans • Developing a teaching schedule for School Rules

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