A Case Scenario of a Challenging School Setting

Our final project consists of three parts.
Purpose: Focus on finding solutions for intensive behavioral issues using strategies from the text, the Padlet, my in-class shares or what you discovered by mining the materials. 

General Directions: All prompts are in place as a suggestion for you to use the materials in the course to effectively comment on how to prevent and to effectively use strategies for intensive behavioral issues in your current or future classroom. I will not assign a word page count. The general guidelines are:  Answer the prompt thoroughly. Elaborate, support your claim and focus on solutions from the course materials. To reiterate professionalism standards. Any quotes used must be cited and do not use work from other courses or "double-dipping".
(professional standards for the Hunter College School of Education).

Prompts to Prepare your Report:

Part One. – This project will be based on
your observation, perception and memory

Describe a challenging school environment or school setting (in a physical building). This is the preferred response. Although I am offering two alternatives for those of you who have not been in a school, it works best to observe an actual school or you may work from memory (no problem). The other alternatives will require you to be resourceful.

Base this on an actual observation of a school. To protect privacy and
confidentiality of school leaders and teachers, please do not refer to actual
names or places. It is best if you use an actual school setting. 

Alternate one:  Refer to video on YouTube, or a case study in written form.  If you choose to use this method, you will need to accurately describe the video or report and provide citations.  This means that your description will be longer than the first option.

Alternative two: Use video clips from the movie, The Breakfast Club or from Abbott Elementary (tv show). This is the least preferred method due to the fact that these are narratives meant to make light of teachers and educators. If you choose to use this method, provide the video links and also accurately describe what you have observed in the video. This means that your description will be longer than the first option.


Describe:

The behaviors of the adults in objective terms. Describe any behaviors
or reactions from adults that could have been prevented or altered in any way
(i.e. – threatening, screaming). Describe how the incident (s) or chaotic
situation may have occurred  and how it could have been prevented. Describe the consequences of the incident (fight, interpersonal conflict, etc.) Describe possible solutions from materials in our course. Refer to specific citations in text or expanded readings (title, page
numbers, paragraph -not APA style). Add how you as a teacher and Special
Education expert would have prevented such incidents (any strategies) – not
from text but from your experience or add your opinion.


 
Part Two. – All educators, especially those teachers who teach self-contained, ICT or in special schools must know what to do when students do not respond to lower tiers of prevention.  In the Padlet, I added a "Sway" on when intensive behavioral support is needed. It is also labeled as an item that you must review.  Additionally, I added another video on PBIS with me talking about the basics of PBIS. . 

Your task is to write a mini-essay (again, I’m not specifying word count or page count). Your mini-essay must cover the general gist of when and how to implement intensive behavioral supports. You also will need to specifically refer to the materials in this course of dealing with intensive behavioral supports. You may add your own references but they cannot be derived from another professor’s course at Hunter College.

Some of the ideas you may discuss are: 

When to initiate intensive behavioral support,  how to define a behavior,  how to collect data, how to include parents or the agency in the process and to make the most out of working with a team.  Also, use the ideas in this course to discuss how you would complete this process for a student with intentional sensitivity and cultural responsiveness.  The materials to support this part of the project are: Items I have added to Padlet such as the SWAY on tier III, the link provided in two ways -  https://eceforms.weebly.com/target-behavior.htm and pages 213-220 in your textbook and my basic PBIS video. You may refer to the FBA/BIP process also using these sites:

behavioradvisor.com http://www.behavioradvisor.com/11583.html

There are many articles and videos on FBA, BIP and intensive behavior. This site is called Behavior Advisor- and the originator is my colleague - Thomas McIntyre, PhD. .

PBIS.org

Part Three. – Think of a learner (student) in the age category that you teach. Use confidentiality and do not name the learner with his/her/their real name but provide a psuedonym.
Briefly describe the learner – age, grade, cultural background, race, personal
interests and hobbies, whether they have an IEP or not.  This has to be real information for educational purposes but I will not know them because you will not point to their school, borough or any other identifier. 

If you cannot think of a learner, use yourself as an example (again this is the very last alternative, please try to use an actual learner). If you do so you will need to not keep confidentiality which means you will focus on a behavior (s) that are not intensive, nor reveal any deep issues. I prefer that you focus on a learner for this reason.



Identify:

One or two challenging behaviors. 
Describe the behaviors in objective terms. Be as specific as possible.
Identify which Tier in PBIS to use to affect behavioral change.  Explain why you would use that tier as a
classroom teacher. List 5-7 strategies for behavioral change. Identify 3
additional classroom management strategies to assist the student and explain
why you would use those strategies. (Strategies may be based on Restorative
Practices, changing the environment, Discipline with Dignity or any
reading/media in the course or using outside research. No pop psychology
please. If you want additional points discuss how you would consider culturally responsive approaches to your behavioral approach.


Suggested organization.

●        Create an attachment as opposed to typing on Google Classroom. Name your attachment with the assignment name and your name. This is important because sometimes I need to read papers as a download or convert them to Google Drive. You may always use Google Drive or Google Docs, but I must be able access it.

●        Divide your report into three sections – Part one, two and three.

●        Create a cover page and a table of contents.

●        APA style is suggested. Reference page – suggested and will help you with obtaining an A or higher.

 
How to get an A or higher: Be on time, no exceptions. Show that you 'mined' the materials' and have been able to formulate possible solutions to prevent, teach appropriate, positive and safe behaviors in your classroom or future classroom, use a student's strengths and your moderate your own thoughts and actions as an educator. Writing is thoughtful, descriptive and it is coherent and for the most part it is proofread thoroughly. You have used the resources in this course without being repetitious. You have reviewed the material on tier III and FBA/BIP and it shows in your responses. Each section will show that you understand and can respond to the prompts independently. You will have elaborated well without repetition. You will have cited the text or materials that support your claims. You will demonstrate that you understand how to address intensive behavioral issues.

How to get a B to B+: On time, use of some examples and references from the text. Some understanding of tier III and intensive supports. There is some repetition or flaws in the writing. There is some evidence of good writing, but there are basic errors in structure/grammar or multiple errors in spelling or usage.

How to get below B: The project is late by one-two days. There are few examples to support your claims or there is little evidence that you have mined the materials.

How to get a failing grade: The project is over three days late or missing. I have e-mailed you more than once to ask for the project OR the project is missing examples to back your claim, disorganized or fails to use citations or evidence from the text.

Due August 6th