Understanding Behaviour Teaching Replacement Skills 1 Getting reconnected

Understanding Behaviour Teaching Replacement Skills 1

Getting re-connected Activity: “Random Numbers” 2

The Big Picture Ecological Factors Environmental Social Physical Setting Events Obtain Avoid Trigger 3

Functional Behaviour Assessment Steps 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Decide if a intervention is warranted Develop a personal profile Define the target behaviour Conduct a functional behaviour interview Conduct direct observations Use setting events checklist Form hypothesis Design an support plan (prevent, teach and respond) Evaluate plan 4

Intervention Plan Prevent (A) • Environment –Classroom –Instruction –Visual supports –Transition supports • Setting events • Providing choices Replace (B) • Self-monitoring • Social Skills • Coping & problem solving strategies • Communication skills or systems • Increased Engaged Time • Responding to teacher • Academic Skills Respond (C ) • Specific to the student • Ignoring • Redirecting • Contingencies by educators and peers • Crisis Intervention 5

Teaching new behaviours • Teach in a systematic way (prompting levels, reinforce) • Logically related to the assessment – Function of the behaviour – What should the student do instead of the target behaviour – How is the environment supporting the behaviour • Teach general positive behaviours • Teach specific skills that allow the student to escape or obtain something in a more acceptable manner 6

General Positive Behaviours Organizational Skills Solving Conflicts • writing down homework in agenda • organizing desk • organizing binders • developing a timeline to finish a project on time • to-do-lists; checklists • role-play • class meetings • social skills curriculums • response to literature • board games 7

General Positive Behaviours Coping Strategies Peer relationships • visuals • social stories • relaxation strategies • time away or quiet area in classroom • pro social skill curriculums • games; play groups • mentor (peer or adults) • role plays • Extra curricular activities 8

Replacement Behaviours Rewrite: The student needs to settle down. To: The student will stay in his seat when the teacher is instructing the class. 9

Examples of Replacement Behaviours Protest Escape Avoid Instead of swearing use simple acceptable (to teacher and student) protest language Use a break card Go to a designated time away area Ask for help I want to work on. . . card I want to work with. . . card 10

Examples of Replacement Behaviours Getting attention from peers Using names at appropriate time Tapping on shoulder Introducing a topic Talking about peer interests Requesting access to a Hand picture of desired preferred activity 11

Teaching Replacement Behaviours The Basic Sequence 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Identify situations where the new skills will be appropriate Select the skill to teach Determine threshold point at which the student is likely to engage in the target behaviour Prompt the replacement behaviour before s/he is likely to engage in the target behaviour Reinforce the replacement behaviour - in the early stages of learning shape responses and reinforce approximations 12

Reinforcement • Something proven to increase behaviour • Contingently follows the desired behaviour • The frequency of earning either the reinforcer or token must match the students ability to delay gratification 13

Reinforcement • Delivered IMMEDIATELY after each desired behaviour • Offer more than one reinforcer and allow the student to pre-select or to select after the replacement skill has been demonstrated 14

Reinforcer Examples • Physical – High five – Pat on the back – Thumbs up • Verbal – “You made a good choice!” – Be specific and vary – Done in front of peers and builds positive reputation of student 15

Reinforcer examples • Activities access – Time on the computer – Free time – Listening to music – First to leave at break time – Headphones for 5 minutes • Tangibles – Positive phone calls – Positive notes home 16 – objects

Reinforcer examples • Privileges – Passes – Permission to sit where you want – Exemption from an assignment or activity – Extra points • Token Economy Systems 17

Implementing the Intervention • Implement the intervention through out every day • Changes in behaviour take time • Some behaviours (attention seeking) will intensify before decreasing • Environmental factors can impinge upon effectiveness • Involve student where ever possible • Take data! (assists teams with evaluating the plan) 18

Things to Try for Next Time • Read: – Positive Reinforcement and Token Economy articles – Complete a 3, 2, 1 sheet for each article • 3 key points • 2 ideas I can use • 1 question I need to ask 19