PBIS & Student Support
At Woodland we are committed to teaching our young students how to be respectful, responsible, and safe. We are proud to have earned Gold level recognition by the California PBIS Coalition (CPC) for our successful implementation of PBIS in 2023-2024. Schools may apply to be recognized for implementing the national PBIS framework with fidelity at Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum levels. This year, we are striving for "Platinum" as we strengthen our systems to support all of our students.
What is PBIS?
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an approach to student behavior that teaches students expected behavior and supports students in meeting those expectations. With positive reinforcement and a multi-tiered framework of support, we teach (and re-teach) students how to behave with positive, restorative systems rather than punitive punishment.
“PBIS is… an ongoing commitment to supporting students, educators, and families through systems change. When you implement PBIS well, students experience improved behavioral, social, emotional, and academic outcomes; schools and programs reduce their use of exclusionary discipline practices and improve their overall climate.” (https://www.pbis.org/pbis/what-is-pbis)
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence based, three tiered system to improve and integrate data, systems, and practices affecting student outcomes every day.
- Tier 1 practices and systems establish a foundation of regular, proactive support while preventing unwanted behaviors. These universal supports are provided to all students, school-wide.
- Tier 2 practices and systems support students who need more help with demonstrating appropriate behavior or who are at risk for developing more serious problem behaviors before those behaviors start. These supports help students develop targeted skills they need to be successful at school.
- Tier 3 practices and systems support students with more intensive, individualized support to improve their behavioral and academic outcomes. At this level, formal assessments may be used to help determine a student’s needs.
PBIS Prizes and Rewards
At the core of a strong Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system is positive teaching and reinforcement of expected behaviors. At Woodland, we positively reinforce behavior through a variety of ways. Positive praise, high fives, encouraging words, and different classroom based systems all work to keep students motivated and proud to be respectful, responsible, and safe. We also reward appropriate student behavior with Dragon Dollars!
Students can buy prizes that range in price from 10-100 Dragon Dollars. While some prizes are little trinkets or toys, the majority of prizes involve an experience that builds positive relationships between students and staff or students and their peers. We also have some higher priced big prizes that will change throughout the year, but will include things like Lego sets, books, sports equipment, and more!
There are two ways students can cash in their Dragon Dollars for a prize. Pencils, erasers, and popsicles are purchased by bringing Dragon Dollars to the office. All of the reward experiences and a visit to Blaze's Boutique are scheduled throughout the month. Students will sign up with their teacher and then participate in the reward experience or visit Blaze's Boutique at the next time that activity is scheduled. All shopping and experiences occur at a time that does not interrupt instruction. When a student gets a prize or participates in an experience, they will get a receipt to take home so their family can see how they are spending their Dragon Dollars and help them celebrate.
Student Behavior Expectations & Support
Woodland students are explicitly taught appropriate behaviors to be Respectful, Responsible, and Safe in all areas of our school. We teach this with child-friendly behavior matrices.
If students do not meet behavior expectations…
At the core of a PBIS system is a tiered approach to student support. It is normal for all young students to need an occasional reminder of appropriate behavior. These regular, ongoing Tier 1 supports include strategies such as re-teaching expectations, apologies, break time, and restorative practices to help students correct these behaviors. If students continue to need support with their behavior, Woodland’s counselor and behavior specialist will partner with their teacher and work with the student to address their individual needs with Tier 2 or 3 strategies. For example, they may develop a unique incentive system to help the student stay focused on meeting their behavior goals or help foster a positive relationship with another teacher in a Check In/Check Out system to help the student be reflective and take responsibility for their behavior. Parents are an important partner in supporting students at home with using common language in holding students accountable for appropriate behavior.
Minor behaviors are addressed by the student’s teacher, and include behaviors like disruption, horseplay, disrespect, inappropriate language, minor physical contact, or dishonesty. Minor behaviors that continue after support strategies have been implemented are documented on the student’s record in Aeries and parents are notified. We ask that parents please discuss the behavior with their child to help reinforce appropriate behavior expectations.
Major behaviors are addressed by the Principal or Assistant Principal, and include behaviors that are in violation of Education Code, such as causing or attempting to cause physical injury. In the event of a major behavior, the administrator investigates the situation and consequences ranging from restorative practices to suspension are implemented.