Behavior Management As a Component of Positive Behavior and Interventions Supports (PBIS)

Gold Medal (2nd)

Behavior Management as a Component of Positive Behavior and Interventions Supports (PBIS)

The discipline committee has been working on drafting a new system of managing student behavior on a school-wide basis. The Gold Medal behavior management system, as a component of PBIS, will replace the existing Five Star program. The purpose of the Gold Medal system is to create a positive and consistent approach to managing student behavior. It will set out to accomplish this by creating a matrix of behavior expectations in all areas of the school and establishing a teaching component that informs students of what the behavior expectations are.

The Gold Medal system is a school-wide means of managing student behavior, to be used by all grade levels; however, some modifications have been made to accommodate the developmental aspect of students in kindergarten and first grade. The Gold Medal system targets student behavior in tier one (approximately 90% of students) of a PBIS three-tier model. The Gold Medal system’s goals include: teaching school-wide positive behavior expectations and procedures; providing positive reinforcement for all students; applying consistent consequences for problem behaviors; and establishing effective procedures and supervision in non-classroom areas as well as in classrooms

Key features of the Gold Medal system:

1. A list of five core values: Responsibility, Respect, Kindness, Safety, Effort. These core values are the umbrella under which all of the expected behaviors are derived.
2. A matrix of expected behaviors in all areas of the school environment
3. Posted signs in various areas of the school that outline the expected behaviors for a specific area
4. Classroom visuals for recording student performance with behavior expectations
5. Classroom rewards for demonstrating appropriate behavior
6. Alignment of the Gold Medal system with the Student Recognition Program
7. Opportunities for students to correct their misbehavior and move toward a gold medal

How the Gold Medal System for managing behavior works at the primary level- 2nd grade:

Students can earn different medals based on their demonstration of appropriate behavior as outlined in the matrix of behavior expectations. There will be a rubric that describes the behaviors associated with the following medals: gold, silver, and bronze, along with a description of behaviors associated with being disqualified. Parents will be given a copy of this rubric. All students start the day at the starting line, and then as the day progresses, they achieve different medal levels based on their demonstration of expected behaviors. In general, silver is for expected behavior included in the behavior matrix. Students who earn a silver medal for the day are making good choices and doing what is expected of them. Gold is for exceptional behavior, going above and beyond what is expected. For example, a student might volunteer to clean up without being asked; or a student might choose to help another student or share his or her supplies. Most likely only a handful of students will earn a gold medal for the day. Gold medals are awarded at the end of the day. Bronze is awarded for generally good behavior; however, a student who has had two warnings during the day for inappropriate behavior would be moved to bronze. A student may move from bronze back to silver if he has corrected his behavior, but he would be unable to earn a gold medal for the day. If a student has had more than four warning about not meeting expected behavior, he is disqualified for the day and not able to earn any medals. Also, a student who is not prepared with his homework for class will be moved to a bronze medal. The goal of the Gold Medal system is to use positive reinforcement and acknowledgement of appropriate behavior while teaching students what the expected behaviors are for the school environment.

Most students will earn a silver medal for the day; a few will earn a gold medal and a few will earn a bronze. As the exception, there may be a student or two who are disqualified for the day due to several warnings about inappropriate behavior. Students who are consistently disqualified will move to tier 2 for more direct intervention to correct inappropriate behavior.

Parents will receive notice on a daily basis as to their child’s school behavior, similar to the 5 Star program. With the Gold Medal system, parents will be informed as to the medal their child achieved for the day, Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Disqualified.

There will be a visual display in the classroom that shows the students’ performance regarding their behavior. This could be a chart with the medals on it or cups with sticks that were used with the Five Star program. A chart will be available for teachers to use if they so desire.

As part of the Gold Medal system for managing student behavior, classroom rewards are highly recommended. At the beginning of the school year, students would be expected to be able to earn a class reward every one to two weeks. The frequency of rewards may lessen as the year progresses when the bar for earning a class reward is raised. A list of possible classroom rewards will be included in the Gold Medal system booklet. To keep track of classroom reward achievement, some type of visual is suggested. For example, a teacher may decide to use marbles in a jar to track achievement toward a class reward. At the teacher’s discretion, possibly each child who earned a gold medal for the day will be allowed to add 3 marbles to the jar; each child who earned a silver medal will be allowed to add 2 marbles; and each child who earned a bronze medal will be allowed to add 1 marble to the jar. Other possible visuals include having students add links to a paper chain for the medals they achieved for the day, or having students add rings to a wooden dowel rod. Implementing classroom rewards is an important component of the Gold Medal system, for it is a means of providing students with positive reinforcement for expected school behaviors. The efforts of the Gold Medal system are to provide students a safe and positive school climate in which to learn and be successful.