Description
A master class in preventing challenging student behavior with confidence
Navigating Behavior Change is a book for all the teachers and school professionals who struggle with the constant cycle of reacting to student behavior. This guide outlines universal practices which should be in place within every classroom to prevent challenging behaviors before they start. When students are focused and ready to learn, educators can do the important work of teaching. In this book, school psychologist Amanda Wilson and special educator Danielle Lindquist help you build your skill set, so you can create an environment where students are regulated and motivated to learn. Inside, you'll find a comprehensive framework of components that you can implement in any K-12 classroom to prevent challenging behaviors and increase student engagement.
- Understand the influence of executive functions, missing skills, and motivation on student behavior
- Learn the core components of classroom management, including class structure and high-leverage instructional practices
- Effectively and meaningfully embed reinforcement to increase student motivation
- Learn how to effectively respond to challenging behaviors to assist students in de-escalating and re-engaging
- Manage your classroom in a trauma-informed way that maintains student dignity
This book will help K-12 teachers, special education teachers, school counselors, and other service providers, instructional coaches, and administrators of students with behavior challenges. Take a proactive approach to behavior and help students so you can spend more time teaching and they can spend more time learning.
Table of Contents
Foreword xiii
About the Authors xv
Introduction xvii
How It All Began xvii
Why We Wrote This Book xviii
How to Use This Book xx
Format xx
Activities xx
Resources xxi
1 Foundations of Behavior 1
What Does Behavior Have to Do with Universal Supports? 1
The Brain: The Not-So-Big Elephant in the Room 5
Why We Do What We Do 9
2 So You Want to Manage a Classroom? 17
Debunking Common Classroom Management Myths 17
Starting with the End in Mind 19
We Ride “The Blame Train” 20
We Make Assumptions 20
We Opt for Compliance or Bust 20
We Get Cozy in Consequence Land 21
Values 22
Components of Effective Universal Supports 24
3 Structuring Your Way to Success 29
An Organized Classroom Supports Organized Behavior 29
Arranging the Physical Layout 30
What It Is 31
Why It’s Effective 31
How to Do It 31
Communicating the Message Through Visual Aids 36
What It Is 37
Why It’s Effective 37
How to Do It 38
Additional Considerations 38
Ensuring Predictability with Schedules and Lesson Agendas 40
What It Is 41
Why It’s Effective 41
How to Do It 41
Additional Considerations 42
Creating Exceptional Expectations 42
What It Is 44
Why It’s Effective 46
How to Do It 46
Additional Considerations 49
Road Mapping Routines for Independence 51
What It Is 51
Why It’s Effective 52
How to Do It 52
Additional Considerations 56
4 Leveling Up Your Instructional Practices 59
Preparing with Precorrection 59
What It Is 60
Why It’s Effective 61
How to Do It 61
Additional Considerations 62
Encouraging Cooperation with Instructional Choice 64
What It Is 64
Why It’s Effective 65
How to Do It 65
Additional Considerations 68
Increasing Opportunities to Respond 70
What It Is 71
Why It’s Effective 71
How to Do It 72
Additional Considerations 76
Getting Our Steps in with Active Supervision 77
What It Is 77
Why It’s Effective 78
How to Do It 78
Additional Considerations 81
Packaging Up Your Lesson Delivery 82
What It Is 83
Why It’s Effective 83
How to Do It 84
Additional Considerations 89
5 Reinforcing Desirable Behaviors 91
Rewards and Incentives and Bribery, Oh My! 91
Common Statements and Misunderstandings Regarding Reinforcement 92
Improving Feedback with Behavior-Specific Praise 96
What It Is 97
Why It’s Effective 98
How to Do It 99
Additional Considerations 101
Embedding Reinforcement into the Classroom 105
6 Responding to Challenging Behaviors 111
Breaking Tradition 111
Misapplied 112
Overused 113
Unresponsive 113
Common Motivations for Ineffective Responses 114
The Mirror: Taking a Long, Hard Look 117
Responding Rather than Reacting 118
Checking Our Communication 120
Regulating: The Art of Defusing 123
Why It’s Effective 123
Developing Your Response Framework 124
Additional Considerations 132
Reflecting: Problem-Solving and Planning for the Future 133
What It Is 134
Why It’s Effective 134
How to Do It 135
Additional Considerations 136
Restoring: Fixing Harm Done 137
What It Is 137
Why It Is Effective 137
How to Do It 137
Re-Engaging: Getting Everyone Back on Track 138
What It Is 138
Why It Is Effective 139
How to Do It 139
7 Putting It All Together 141
Common Classroom Challenges 141
Transitions and Tribulations 143
Circle Time Circus 146
Writing Retaliation 149
Direct Instruction Disaster 152
8 Problem-Solving Barriers 157
Fidelity of Implementation 157
Gaining Buy-In and Advocating for Change 158
Appendix 163
Reproducible Forms 163
References 187
Glossary 189
Index 191
