MTSS/SEL

1. We can no longer assume that students already know the expectations/rules and appropriate ways to behave or that they will learn appropriate behaviors without consistent practice and modeling.
2. Behaviors are prerequisites for academics.  Students need to be taught “school ready behaviors” such as how to attend to tasks, listen to their teachers, use quiet voices, etc. so our students are ready to learn academic skills.
3. Procedures and routines create structure and consistency, which aids in reducing students’ anxiety and makes them ready to learn.
4. Repetition is the key to learning new skills. *For youth to unlearn an old behavior and replace it with a new behavior, the new behavior must be repeated with fidelity an average of 28 times. 

We teach students academics, why not teach them behavior skills!!

PBS stands for Positive Behavior Support and is also known as PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). At Meadowood, we help create and facilitate all levels of behavior support. We work on finding the best way to promote positive, consistent learning environments, teach appropriate social expectations, and prevent problematic behaviors. We do this by using a systems approach for establishing the social culture and behavioral supports needed to achieve both social and academic success for students. The reason we use this approach is because PBS is a set of research-based strategies that increase the quality of life and decrease problem behavior by teaching new skills and making changes in a person’s environment. We do this by 1) teaching expected behavior via Tier 1 lessons and reiterating expectations throughout the school day, 2) building positive relationships by having a good attitude and pairing yourself with the things students like, and 3) helping students develop self-discipline with praise and recognizing students for the good things they do. At least once a marking period, students are celebrated for the good things they do through PBS events. 

MTSS is used to teach expected behavior, build positive relationships, and develop self-discipline in students.  Praise and rewards are one way to achieving these goals (but are not the most important part of the program).  RC Cash, or Red Clay Cash, is just one component of Meadowood’s MTSS plan that is used universally across each site. It is applied to a wide range of positive behaviors and is delivered in a variety of settings throughout each school building (in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, and vocational/community settings).  Teaching students appropriate behaviors for different settings helps to create structure for students of expected procedures and routines.  In addition, repetition is key in learning new skills and helps prepare students to be ready to learn. MTSS also provides consistency across the entire Meadowood program and classrooms, so that students know what to expect year after year.   

When providing reinforcers it is extremely important to ensure that the usage of them has a purpose. Providing reinforcement for a behavior will ensure a connection is made for the individual. When praise is given right after the desired behavior performed, the connection made is stronger. For example, RC Cash is used to help reinforce the expected behaviors consistent with the behavior matrix of each school.  Students receive $1, $5, $10, or $20 bills depending on the grade level.  This system not only reinforces behavior expectations, but also assists students with money identification and teaches math and life skills.  Students can receive RC cash for social-emotional skills as well. This might be for a positive behavior that is seen that relates to showing empathy, caring for others or having responsibility.  For example, this could be when a student holds a door for a peer or checks to see if they are okay.  Students are provided wallets to store their cash, also teaching them responsibility.  

At least once a day, students are then provided an opportunity to “cash out” using the RC Cash that they have earned by exchanging it for preferred or reinforcing items or activities.  Each classroom creates a menu with items and activities and their prices to reference during cashout times.

For example, one such menu might list that the iPad costs $20 to use, snacks are $10, Cars are $10, and puzzles are $5. 

When it is time to cash out, students will:

1. Open their wallet and count their RC Cash.

2. Figure out what reward they can buy with their cash by checking the price on the reward menu.

3. Count out the amount of cash that is needed.

4. Let the teacher know what they are buying.

5. Give the teacher the money and get the reward!

Reinforcement is much more than just praising good behavior, there are many terrific things that come from it! Reinforcement is such a powerful tool that when you only reinforce positive behaviors, you can actually prevent negative behaviors from occurring as well.  

Students need to be taught the expectations/rules and the appropriate ways to behave.  We cannot assume that our students know how to behave.  That’s why it’s important to spend time teaching these behaviors in the beginning of the school year and reteaching after vacation breaks and even after just long weekends.  Behaviors are prerequisites for academics, meaning students need to be taught “school ready behaviors” such as how to attend to tasks, listen to their teachers, use quiet voices, etc. so our students are ready to learn academic skills.  Secondly, procedures and routines create structure and consistency, which aids in reducing students’ anxiety and makes them ready to learn.  Lastly, repetition is key! We all know this! We don’t learn something by hearing or doing it once or twice; we do this repeatedly in order to successfully teach our students.