behavior intervention – Astute Hoot

Dos and Don’ts of Behavior Reflection

September 16, 2017By astutehoot

Do you struggle with helping students process their behaviors and learn to make better choices? Are your time-outs ineffective? Are your students repeating the same negative behaviors? Having strategies for effective behavior reflection is critical to creating a positive learning environment (and staying sane).

Dos

Choose the appropriate behavior reflection form based on your students’ levels (reading, developmental, age, etc.)
Present this tool to the student in a 1:1 setting after their behavior has deescalated and they are ready to reflect
Provide supports in completion (e.g., teacher prompting, student can dictate to adult)
Select, model and practice appropriate replacement behaviors for the future
Guide student to write an apology letter to help them realize how their behavior affects others
Copy and send home for parental signature; save original in student file for behavior documentation and data collection

Don’ts

Use for every minor behavior infraction; instead focus on target behavior(s) and/or moderate to severe issues
Present and discuss in front of whole class
Forget to review and discuss the behavior reflection and appropriate replacement behaviors with student
Overlook positive behaviors and attempts to make better choices

Two versions of the Think Sheet are included, as well as a template for an apology letter.

Download the Think Sheet and other helpful behaviors tools here!

Beat the Behavior Blues

August 5, 2013August 18, 2013By astutehoot

Do you have the Behavior Blues? You know, the horrible knot you get in the pit of your stomach when you think about the “naughty” students in your class, the cold sweat when Johnny challenges you in front of the class, the cringed toes as you repeat directions for the 100^th time or the exasperated groan when you call home yet again. We’ve all experienced the Behavior Blues in one form or another, but how do you beat them, once and for all?

We all know that misbehavior, whether minor or major, causes major teacher stress and loss of instructional time. Yet many teachers, including me, have made the conscious choice to “just deal” with it and trudge forward rather than create an effective solution. Why is this? For me, I tried everything I had in my repertoire—Treasure Box, teacher helper, loss of recess, parent contact, principal referral—with little results. I kept using the same techniques simply because I didn’t know what else to do.

A few years ago, the Behavior Blues finally got the best of me. After a daunting year with extremely challenging students, I was defeated and ready to quit teaching. Something had to give. I spent the summer reading about behavior management strategies and programs. After a great deal of research, I created the Golden Keys to Success, a systematic behavior system that teaches 5 key life skills that students need to become successful citizens. Students learn to be respectful, responsible, prepared, prompt and active participants. As a result, they take ownership of their behavior. Specific positive and negative consequences are used to reinforce behaviors. There is also daily home-school communication, which promotes a strong partnership.

The Golden Keys to Success program has everything that my classroom was lacking: explicit behavior expectations, specific positive and negative consequences, consistency, parent communication and student ownership. Detailed lesson plans and activities teach behavior indicators in a fun, engaging way with quality literature, cooking, writing and art activities.

Download our Golden Keys to Success Classroom Behavior Management Plan and accompanying lesson plans to beat those Behavior Blues once and for all!

Visual Schedule

May 1, 2012July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Are your mornings hectic, frazzled, or full of frustration? Try making a visual schedule to break down all of the steps. Use photos or clip art as a visual cue. Kids can refer to the chart to see what they need to do. No more nagging needed! 🙂 Our mornings are so much smoother using this simple tool. I also made a “Bedtime Routine” visual schedule.