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Tier 1
What is included in Tier 1 supports?
Tier 1- Universal Level
Tier 1 interventions and supports are intended for all students in the school. The core components of prevention include setting clear behavioral expectations, creating an acknowledgement system to reinforce desired behaviors, and developing a system for addressing behavior.
Universal Team
Cleveland’s Universal Team includes the principal, school counselor (PBIS Internal Coach), school psychologist, PBIS District External Coach, teachers, educational assistants, and a parent representative. The Universal Team guides the school in implementing PBIS to fidelity by meeting monthly and using data to drive conversations. The Universal Team creates school-wide action plans based on data from Skyward. The team also develops and maintains school-wide expectations, the school’s behavioral matrix, behavioral lesson plans (Cool Tools), and a system for communicating information to staff, students, parents, and the community.
Behavioral Expectations
Creating clear expectations is the first step in developing a school-wide PBIS program. The Universal System consists of rules, routines, and physical arrangements that are developed and taught by school staff to prevent problem behavior.
Cleveland’s Behavioral Expectations for students, staff, and visitors include:
- Be Safe
- Be Respectful
- Be Responsible
A School-Wide Matrix
A school-wide matrix lists the specific behavioral expectations for each setting within the school. The settings chosen for the matrix are areas where the behaviors can be taught, modeled, practiced, and observed. The matrix provides a clear visual of all school-wide behavioral rules/expectations.
Teaching Appropriate Behavioral Expectations
It is necessary to teach the school-wide expected behaviors to all students. The following practices are used at Cleveland:
Kick-Off and Booster Events- The Universal Team designs a kick-off and booster event to teach the expected behaviors to staff, students, and families. Cleveland hosts a kick-off event for all students during the first week of school and a booster event at the beginning of the second semester.
Cool Tool Lessons- There are behavioral lessons that define, teach, model, and practice desirable behaviors. At Cleveland, the Cool Tool lessons are selected based on school-wide data. Weekly lesson plans are provided to staff. Teachers are responsible for teaching the lessons to the students, and all staff teach the same lesson during each week.
Assemblies- All-school assemblies help improve the school climate by reinforcing behavioral expectations and celebrating the positive school community. Cleveland’s all-school assemblies are held monthly on the first Friday of each month from 8:50-9:30 in the gym. During the assembly, students are recognized for positive behavior, and the Cool Tool topic for the week is highlighted through an activity.
An Acknowledgement System- An acknowledgement system is a systematic approach for observing and reinforcing expected behaviors. The system provides for immediate (high-frequency), intermittent (unpredictable), and long-term (quarterly) ways of acknowledging desired behaviors. Cleveland acknowledges desired behaviors in the following ways:
- PAWS Slips (Positive Attitudes Will Succeed) = Immediate Reinforcement
- Double PAWS days, Power PAWS, Bonus PAWS drawing= Intermittent Reinforcement
- Quarterly PBIS Celebrations= Long-Term Reinforcement
PAWS Slips
Staff members hand out PAWS to any student who is displaying appropriate behavior. Staff members also verbally praise the student for the behavior, specifically stating what behavior was observed. The verbal praise is an essential component of using PAWS as this allows students to hear what specific behavior is desirable. Research shows that this specific, positive feedback encourages increased occurrences of appropriate behaviors.
Staff members and students record their names on the PAWS and then enter them into a PAWS drawing. Each classroom teacher has a container in his/her classroom for the students to put their PAWS into. Each week, all PAWS are collected from each classroom, and a student’s name from each classroom is drawn at random. Students whose names are chosen get to pick a small, tangible prize or an intangible recognition. Intangible recognitions include: Dine-in-Style, Wear your favorite hat to school, Library assistant, Slipper day, Bring your favorite stuffed animal to school for the day, Lunch with the school counselor, Student’s name displayed on the school digital front sign for a day, Play a game with the school counselor, Assist Ms. Debbie and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the school, Office helper with Mrs. Stolzmann, Hot Chocolate with Mrs. Iseler.
Lunchroom & Recess PAWS
Noon hour supervisors hand out PAWS to any student who is displaying appropriate behavior in the lunchroom and at recess. All noon hour supervisors have met with Mrs. Iseler and Mrs. Peterson to learn about PBIS.
Double PAWS Days
Once a week, there is a Double PAWS Day. Staff members give students two PAWS when recognizing desirable behaviors. The day of the week changes so that the Double PAWS Days remain unpredictable. Staff is notified on the day if it is a Double PAWS Day.
Power PAWS
If an entire class is demonstrating a positive behavior, any staff member can award that class with a Power PAW! Power PAWS are a great way to acknowledge an entire class for doing the right thing! After a class earns 3 Power PAWS, they earn a special song and dance and a class prize such as a small snack for everyone in the class.
Bonus PAWS drawing
At each assembly, all of the PAWS from the month are emptied into a large container, and a school-wide drawing takes place. Students whose names are drawn are able to pick a PBIS acknowledgement.
Quarterly PBIS Celebrations
Cleveland hosts quarterly long-term reinforcement activities for all students. The Universal Team plans the events and shares agendas with the staff at staff meetings. Past incentives have included movie days, game days, magicians, drumlines from area high schools, and a dance party.