Behavior Program

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)

Here at Dundalk Elementary, the use of the PBIS model has given the students and faculty positive results.  PBIS is a framework that supports and promotes positive student behavior in classroom and non-classroom (cafeteria, bus, etc.) settings, as well as individual student behaviors.  Students are taught the "Stop and Think" program to encourage responsible behavior.  The "Stop and Think" program consists of a 5-step process where students tell themselves:

1. I want/need to Stop and Think.

2. Do I want to make a good choice or a bad choice? (a good choice)

3. What are my good steps or choices right now?

4. I'm  ready - I need to "Just do it!"

5. I did a great job! (I'm going to pat myself on the back).

The staff uses meaningful incentives and consequences to help motivate the students to demonstrate their responsible behavior.  Students have the opportunity to earn "GOTCHAS" for making good behavioral choices.  Each student will have chance to visit the school store to spend their "GOTCHAS" on a variety of treats.

Consequences for misbehavior are most effective when implemented as soon as possible after the behavior occurs.  Consequences are delivered in a consistent and calm manner.  Intensities of behaviors are defined as:

1. Intensity I: Behavior problems that teachers handle with a minimum of interaction or intervention.

2. Intensity II: Behavior problems that teachers handle with a more directed intervention.

3. Intensity III: Behavior problems that are so significant and or persistent that they require some type of out-of-classroom intervention.

4. Intensity IV: Behavior problems that are so unsafe and/or disruptive that an immediate office referral is warranted.

Teachers help to implement these consequences using a color-coded chart to help students recognize the types of behaviors they are using.  Students can move back and forth among the colors depending on the choices they make.

• Green - Students are making great choices and using appropriate behavior.

• Yellow - Students are beginning to make decisions that are not appropriate.

• Orange - Students behaviors require them to "Sit and Think" in order to change their behavior and choices from negative to positive.

• Blue - Students need to go to a "Buddy" classroom in order to regroup and change the inappropriate behaviors.

• Purple - Students proceed to the "Focus Room" to discuss behaviors with the IA.  A plan of action is agreed upon where the students will be allowed to return to the room with the knowledge that their behaviors will be positive.

• Red - Student behaviors are unsafe and/or disruptive that they need an immediate office referral to speak to an administrator.

Good Choice Pledge

Every day, the students recite the following Good Choice Pledge:

At Dundalk Elementary, I am: respectful, responsible, safe, and prepared.

Each week, classrooms focus on one of these characteristics.  At the end of the week, each class selects a student that best showed the characteristic.  Those students are then recognized on the morning announcements.  Each class also keeps a record for the year of the students that have been recognized.