We All Need Reminders

Sometimes we expect too much of ourselves. Sometimes we expect more out of others than we do of ourselves. Sometimes, as educators, we expect more out of students than is expected of us. During a recent after school meeting centered on the topic of PBIS and the research behind it, there were some key pieces that resonated with me as presented by our speaker.

Don't rely on punishment to change behavior.

Don't think any reinforcer will work for every student. 

Don't think taking away something will change the behavior.

And...likely the best piece for me to remember:

When it's really important, we remind. 

Don't worry if we have to remind students what is needed. As adults, we get reminders all the time. I don't know what I would do without all the reminders I use each day. Providing students with reminders will not enable them or make them any less independent. 

When we stop to really think about what we do, out of habit or tradition (or because that's the way THEY did it back when WE were kids), the discrepancies are there. If we really consider what we are saying -- and even say it out loud -- we know it not to be true.

As a building, we have a learned a lot about behavior and students over the last three years. We've learned that misbehavior serves a function. Students are sending us a message when they misbehave. It's just that the message isn't made up of words. It's made up of actions that let us know a myriad of possible causes. It could be from not feeling well to not understanding the work as presented to fearing embarrassment in front of a peer. 

No one person implements PBIS in a building. The synergy created by the collaborative efforts of our teams move us forward. I can not give justice to the work our PBIS team and teachers have put into the program. It has been nothing short of remarkable! Our best PBIS work has not been a result of stand alone consequences, zero tolerance policies, or strict discipline.  Our best PBIS work has been the result of connections, conversations and reteachings. 

Part of our commitment to the program includes revisiting statements we hear as we are implementing PBIS. Many of those are the bold statements above. It's deliberate work to support a PBIS initiative. You don't just decide to implement PBIS. You commit to it. Commitment requires all hands in.

Our job now, and moving forward, is to recognize the difference between a myth and a truth. Myths hold us back. Truths move us ahead. When we take the time to consider the statements we hear from each other or ourselves about the program, it strengthens us.

Moving forward, we rely on reminders to keep us on track...students, staff, and principal.

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." 

- Maya Angelou