Navigating Behavior Change

Foreword xiii About the Authors xv Introduction xvii How It All Began xvii Why We Wrote This Book xviii How to Use This Book xx Format xx Activities xx Resources xxi 1 Foundations of Behavior 1 What Does Behavior Have to Do with Universal Supports? 1 The Brain: The Not-So-Big Elephant in the Room 5 Why We Do What We Do 9 2 So You Want to Manage a Classroom? 17 Debunking Common Classroom Management Myths 17 Starting with the End in Mind 19 We Ride “The Blame Train” 20 We Make Assumptions 20 We Opt for Compliance or Bust 20 We Get Cozy in Consequence Land 21 Values 22 Components of Effective Universal Supports 24 3 Structuring Your Way to Success 29 An Organized Classroom Supports Organized Behavior 29 Arranging the Physical Layout 30 What It Is 31 Why It’s Effective 31 How to Do It 31 Communicating the Message Through Visual Aids 36 What It Is 37 Why It’s Effective 37 How to Do It 38 Additional Considerations 38 Ensuring Predictability with Schedules and Lesson Agendas 40 What It Is 41 Why It’s Effective 41 How to Do It 41 Additional Considerations 42 Creating Exceptional Expectations 42 What It Is 44 Why It’s Effective 46 How to Do It 46 Additional Considerations 49 Road Mapping Routines for Independence 51 What It Is 51 Why It’s Effective 52 How to Do It 52 Additional Considerations 56 4 Leveling Up Your Instructional Practices 59 Preparing with Precorrection 59 What It Is 60 Why It’s Effective 61 How to Do It 61 Additional Considerations 62 Encouraging Cooperation with Instructional Choice 64 What It Is 64 Why It’s Effective 65 How to Do It 65 Additional Considerations 68 Increasing Opportunities to Respond 70 What It Is 71 Why It’s Effective 71 How to Do It 72 Additional Considerations 76 Getting Our Steps in with Active Supervision 77 What It Is 77 Why It’s Effective 78 How to Do It 78 Additional Considerations 81 Packaging Up Your Lesson Delivery 82 What It Is 83 Why It’s Effective 83 How to Do It 84 Additional Considerations 89 5 Reinforcing Desirable Behaviors 91 Rewards and Incentives and Bribery, Oh My! 91 Common Statements and Misunderstandings Regarding Reinforcement 92 Improving Feedback with Behavior-Specific Praise 96 What It Is 97 Why It’s Effective 98 How to Do It 99 Additional Considerations 101 Embedding Reinforcement into the Classroom 105 6 Responding to Challenging Behaviors 111 Breaking Tradition 111 Misapplied 112 Overused 113 Unresponsive 113 Common Motivations for Ineffective Responses 114 The Mirror: Taking a Long, Hard Look 117 Responding Rather than Reacting 118 Checking Our Communication 120 Regulating: The Art of Defusing 123 Why It’s Effective 123 Developing Your Response Framework 124 Additional Considerations 132 Reflecting: Problem-Solving and Planning for the Future 133 What It Is 134 Why It’s Effective 134 How to Do It 135 Additional Considerations 136 Restoring: Fixing Harm Done 137 What It Is 137 Why It Is Effective 137 How to Do It 137 Re-Engaging: Getting Everyone Back on Track 138 What It Is 138 Why It Is Effective 139 How to Do It 139 7 Putting It All Together 141 Common Classroom Challenges 141 Transitions and Tribulations 143 Circle Time Circus 146 Writing Retaliation 149 Direct Instruction Disaster 152 8 Problem-Solving Barriers 157 Fidelity of Implementation 157 Gaining Buy-In and Advocating for Change 158 Appendix 163 Reproducible Forms 163 References 187 Glossary 189 Index 191