PBIS

 Behavioral Expectations are Defined

 A small number of clearly defined behavioral expectations are defined in positive, simple, rules. Citrus Middle School Pride Commitments are:

• Be Safe

• Be Respectful

• Be Responsible

 Behavioral Expectations are Taught

 The behavioral expectations are taught to all students on campus and are taught in real contexts. Teaching appropriate behavior involves much more than simply telling students what behaviors they should avoid. Specific behavioral examples are:

• Being respectful means raising your hand when you want to speak or get help.
• Being respectful means using a person’s name when you talk to him or her.
• Being respectful means following dress code guidelines
• Being safe means knowing and following classroom and school rules on a daily basis.
• Being safe means to be on time.
• Being safe means cleaning up after yourself.
• Being responsible means to be prepared with assignments and materials.
• Being responsible means to follow and respond appropriately to adult direction.
• Being responsible means using appropriate language in and out of the classroom.
   

Behavioral expectations are taught using the same teaching formats applied to other curricula. The general rule is presented, the rationale for the rule is discussed, positive examples (“right way”) are described and rehearsed, and negative examples (“wrong way”) are described and modeled. Students are given an opportunity to practice the “right way” until they demonstrate fluent performance.

Appropriate Behaviors are Acknowledged

 Once appropriate behaviors have been defined and taught, they need to be acknowledged on a regular basis. CMS has designed a formal system that rewards positive behaviors. “Caught demonstrating Viking Pride” are immediate forms used by the individual teacher, as a tool of encouragement and a student motivator.

 Behavioral Errors are Corrected Proactively

 When students violate behavioral expectations, clear procedures are needed for providing information to them that their behavior was unacceptable and preventing that unacceptable behavior from resulting in inadvertent rewards. Students, teachers, and administrators all should be able to predict what will occur when behavioral errors are identified.