Behavior Improvement Program Takes A Community
"Teachers are not in the punishment business," said Rob Fennimore, who oversees restorative practices at Garden Spot Middle School (GSMS). "They are in the teaching business." Fennimore's comment was part of an explanation of Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS), which is being used at the middle school to teach behavior and socialization skills in a positive way.
"The idea is that as a school, you systematically and strategically teach expected behaviors," explained assistant principal Matt Fox, who noted that the PBIS team of GSMS staff began meeting in the spring of 2021 to create a document that outlines behaviors and expectations that further develops the Garden Spot Spartan Way creed. "(The) PBIS team made an effort to create a matrix that lays out expectations in the cafeteria and in the hallways," said Fox.
To reward students who exhibit positive behaviors, teachers and other staff members distribute tickets known as Spartan Way Pay. Tickets, which are signed by both students and staff, are deposited in a box in the school office in exchange for a sticker. Stickers are then used in a count to help reach schoolwide goals. Each week, drawings are held. Up to six students whose names are drawn have their choice of prize options, including gift cards; experiences, such as a baseball game or bowling; and spending time with friends in the Spartan Way Cafe, which the PBIS team created in a former faculty room. The cafe features snacks and beverages; interactive games such as Wii games, video games, and air hockey; a basketball hoop; and charging stations. In addition, a staff member's name is drawn, and prizes include gift cards and clothing. Students may also choose to give up their reward in favor of giving coupons to teachers for rewards such as jeans days. In addition, schoolwide goals involving the number of total tickets students receive are set. When those goals are reached, all students share in a prize, which has ranged from an ice cream party to a field day.
The PBIS team surveyed students to learn what rewards they would like, and they tailored the prizes to those preferences. However, Fox noted, the team wants to keep the rewards fresh. Teacher and PBIS team member Kylie Shea said that both area businesses and individuals have been donating rewards, which has included resin pens, toys, and two bicycles from the Common Wheel to be given away in the spring. Fox said he would love to see the community become more involved by donating gift cards and items as prizes or by donating activities for the Spartan Way Cafe. He noted that names of businesses that donate could be put on the wall outside the cafe and thanked on the school's social media.
As the PBIS team looks toward reaching the next schoolwide goal of students' earning a total 1,000 Spartan Way Pay tickets, Fennimore noted that in this program, everybody benefits. "It's a reminder to the community that kids want to do well. They want to behave. They want to get better by learning new skills. This is a win-win."
Readers who would like to donate may contact Fox at matthew_fox@elanco.org.
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