Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBiS)
At Maplewood Elementary, we have proudly been implementing school-wide Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBiS) since May 2016. Each year, as a staff and school system, we go through an evaluation process conducted by IU5 to determine if we are effectively implementing the program. Through this process we also set three main goals for each school year to remain in a cycle of continuous improvement. During the 2020-2021 school year, we are heavily focusing on (1) communicating and educating our stakeholders about PBiS, (2) researching and implementing effective behavioral interventions and consequences and (3) organizing a PBiS curriculum for staff.
What is PBiS?
SWPBiS stands for School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports. SWPBiS is a research-based continuum using an evidence-based teaching model to achieve academically and behaviorally important outcomes for all students.
We have defined our for expected behaviors (ROAR) for our students at Maplewood Elementary. They are all positively stated, easy to remember, clearly defined and tell students what TO DO rather than what not to do.
You…..
R - Respect for Yourself and Others
O - Own Your Actions
A - Have a Positive Attitude
R - Responsibility for Yourself
Why PBiS?
Frequently, the question is asked, "Why should I have to teach kids to be good? They already know what they are supposed to do. Why can I not just expect good behavior?" In the past, school-wide discipline has focused mainly on reacting to specific student misbehavior by implementing punishment-based strategies including reprimands, loss of privileges, office referrals, suspensions and expulsions. Research has shown that the implementation of punishment, especially when it is used inconsistently and in the absence of other positive strategies, is ineffective. Introducing, modeling and reinforcing positive social behavior is an important step of a student's educational experience. Teaching behavioral expectations and rewarding students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehavior to occur before responding. The purpose of school-wide PBiS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm.
We LOVE having the opportunity to help our students succeed and we're very proud of them for repeatedly making the right choices. We hope you are as excited as we are about the great work that the students have been doing. Our recent SWPBiS evaluation confirms what we already know..... MES is PAWS-itively the best!
For more information about PBiS, please contact Mrs. Erin Fonzo, principal of Maplewood Elementary School, or reference the resources linked below.
