Intervention with Individual students

Teri Lewis

Oregon State University

Elements of School-wide Discipline Plan

1. Common approach to discipline

2. Clear set of expected positive behaviors

3. Procedures for teaching expected behavior

4. Continuum of procedures for encouraging expected behavior

5. Continuum of procedures for discouraging inappropriate behavior

6. Procedures for on-going monitoring & evaluation

Outcomes Associated with Suspension

• Number of suspensions/expulsions is increasing in many school districts.

• Being suspended/expelled is one of top three school-related reasons for leaving school (National Association of Child Advocates, 1998).

• Students who are suspended/expelled have increased likelihood of becoming involved in juvenile justice system.

Prerequisites for Developing a Continuum• Behavior-based perspective• Proactive teaching emphasis• Data-guided decision making• Group-based decision making• Evidence-based practices• Positive reinforcement of alternative behavior

Continuum of Possible Responses

• Acknowledge students exhibiting expected behavior

• Secure attention & redirect student to expected behavior

• Provide choice between expected behavior and staff-managed consequence

• Deliver staff-managed consequence• Deliver office-managed consequence

Hierarchy

Aversiveness Level IV

Level III

Level II

Level I

When selecting a specific practice:

• Match practice to systems level• SW - Setting - Group - Individual

• Match practice to context• Skills, resources, values, etc.

Base selection on student identified• What, when, where, & why

• Choose the practice that is least intrusive yet effective• Balance • Begin where you will be successful

• Match practice to student information• What, when, where and why

• Adopt a function-based approach• Gain social or item/activity, escape social or demand,

automatic

Overview of Reinforcement• Reinforcement is the contingent withdrawal/withholding of an aversive or presentation of a desired/pleasant stimuli to increase behavior.

• Positive reinforcement - present (Action=Give)

• Negative reinforcement- withdraw/withhold (Action=Take)

Overview: Punishment

• Punishment is the contingent withdrawal/withholding of reinforcement or presentation of an aversive to decrease behavior.

• Positive punishment - present (Action=Give)

• Negative punishment- withdraw/withhold (Action=Take)

Summary

A Matter of Perspective•Always define the who and what you are interested in.

General Steps to Developing a Continuum

• Clearly defined problem and context• e.g., hat in class, tardies, transitions, etc.

• Precorrection/preventive strategy• for identified risk times or settings

• Consistent procedures• e.g, all staff, settings, minor behaviors

• Teaching Opportunity• focus on appropriate expectation

Activity• Where is your school?

• What options to staff have available• Status of office discipline referral process• Share with group

• What are staff needs?

Overview of Strategies: Encourage• Strategies to encourage appropriate behavior

• Premack Principle• Token economy• Contracting• Group contingencies

Strategy 1: Premack Principle• Using a high preferred activity to reinforce a low preferred

activity (Grandmothers Rule)• Typically, If...Then statements

• If you clean your room, then you can play Play Station• If you eat a good dinner, then you can have dessert

Strategy 2: Token Economy• Using a generalized reinforcer (token) that can be

exchanged at a later time for another back-up reinforcer

Token Reinforcement• Token=anything that can be dispensed, given contingent

upon behavior• Poker chips, points, stickers, weaving hoops, slips, etc.

• Back-up reinforcer= previously identified activities, objects, events, or privileges that have reinforcing value.

• Free time, food, computer, music, first in lunch line, etc

Establishing a Token Economy• Identify target behaviors• Define tokens• Identify incentives for appropriate behavior• Plan an exchange system• Plan procedures for fading tokens• Develop monitoring system• Establish operating guidelines

Strategy 3: Contracting• Written &/or verbal agreement or arrangement between

two or more individuals that designates conditions, consequences, & responsibilities for improving behavioral performance

Elements

1. Behavior(s) for improvement

2. Level of improvement

3. Strategies for teacher, student, others

4. Individual responsibilities

5. Consequences for appropriate/inappropriate

6. Record keeping

Strategy 4: Group Contingencies

• Making consequences either contingent on group behavior or by letting an individual student’s behavior affect consequences for the entire group (Wolery, Bailey, & Sugai, 1988).

Three Variations• Dependent Group-Oriented

- Performance of selected members results in consequences for whole group

• Independent Group-Oriented- Each member same criterion consequences based

on their performance

• Interdependent Group-Oriented- Each member same criterion but consequences

based on group performance

Strategies to reduce• Strategies to discourage inappropriate behavior:

• Reteaching

Strategy Five: Reteaching• Signal that error has occurred

• State rule and expected behavior

• Ask student to state/show expected behavior

• Give positive feedback

Strategy Six: Off-Task • Acknowledge students on-task• Redirect student’s group• Privately redirect student to task• Stay with direction until on-task• Acknowledge cooperation• Continue to prevent off-task by acknowledging on-task

Strategy Seven: Disrespectful/provacative• Speak privately, calmly, respectfully• Identify the problem• Minimize body language• Present reasonable options (focus on expected behavior

• Be brief• Give student chance to comply, acknowledge• Do not become involved in escalation

Strategy Eight:Reducing Agitation• Recognize agitation• Focus on expected behavior• Remind student of options• Allow space

• Attend to other students• Monitor from nearby• Assist student to begin work (possibly independent task)

Strategy Nine: Response Cost

• The contingent withdrawal of specified amount of reinforcement that the student already has that result in a decrease in responding.• Limited to where conditioned reinforcers (tokens) are

used.• Must have some level of positive reinforcement available.

• Examples...

Response Cost, cont.

• Advantages• Strong and rapid decrease, possible long lasting effects,

convenient/easy to use.

• Disadvantages• Requires use of conditioned reinforcers, penalties may be

abused, may generate side effects.

Using Response Cost• Allow for “Cash-in” before starting.• Keep students out of negative points.• Communicate rules clearly.• Be consistent.• Reinforce appropriate behaviors.• Have contingency plan if students refuse to give up

tokens.

Strategy Ten: Time out from positive reinforcement

• Reducing inappropriate behavior by denying the student access, for a fixed period of time, to the opportunity to receive reinforcement.

• Three types• Non-seclusionary (e.g., head on desk)• Exclusionary (e.g., removal from activity)• Seclusionary (e.g., removal from room)

Time Out, cont.• Advantages

• Effective

• Disadvantages• Negative, non-constructive contingency• Suppression of other appropriate behavior• Adverse public reaction• Easily abused/misused

Using Time Out

• Remove reinforcement that may be supporting undesirable behavior.

• Avoid opportunities for self-stimulation.• Use consistently.• Keep duration short.• Debrief.

• Teach the procedure• Establish criterion for getting out• Record data• Have adequate safe guards (seclusionary)

• remove dangerous objects, parent consent (written), explain all procedures, lights, rugs, allow teacher observation.

Guidelines:Check your own emotions• In general,

• Stay calm• Be aware of physical proximity• Remember to acknowledge attempts, compliance, etc. • Give yourself an option to “cool down” • Have a plan and know when you need to use it• Remember don’t have to handle every situation right then

Behavior v. Crisis Intervention• Behavior management involves a long-term plan to

increase student independence and success. Involves arranging environments, teaching new skills and consistent adult responses.

• Crisis management involves safety. Know and follow district/county procedures for crisis intervention procedures.

In General…• Work to prevent problem behavior

• “positive time-in environment”

• Remain calm and respectful• Address issues privately• Follow-through• Be consistent, no surprises

• Preteach time-out or other procedures

Staff Development • Content

• What information• How presented• Activities (e.g., role play, video, vignettes)

• Assessment• Guess & Check, FACTS, …

• On-going support• Request for assistance• Range of types/levels of assistance• Materials and resources (e.g., Tool kit)

Activity