What are Behavioral Supports in high school and junior high school?

Question

What are Behavioral Supports in high school and junior high school?

Answer 1

Behavioral supports in high school and junior high school are strategies and interventions put in place to support students in managing their behavior and promoting positive social and emotional development. These supports aim to create a safe and inclusive learning environment where students can thrive academically and socially. Some examples of commonly used behavioral supports in High School and Junior High Schools are:

1. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is a proactive approach to behavior management that focuses on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors. It involves creating clear expectations for behavior, providing consistent consequences for both positive and negative behaviors, and implementing strategies to prevent challenging behaviors.
2. Behavior Contracts: Written agreements between students and school staff that outline specific behavioral goals, expectations and consequences. They help students take ownership of their behavior and provide a framework for monitoring progress and providing support.
3. Social Skills Training: Programs that teach students the necessary skills to interact positively with peers, teachers, and other adults. These programs may include lessons on communication, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and empathy.
4. Individualized Behavior Plans: For students with more significant behavioral challenges, individualized behavior plans may be developed. These plans outline specific strategies and supports tailored to the student's needs, such as behavior goals, reinforcement systems, and strategies for addressing challenging behaviors.
5. Counseling and Mental Health Services: Schools often provide counseling and mental health services to support students' emotional well-being. These services may include individual counseling, group therapy, and crisis intervention. They can help students address underlying issues that may contribute to behavioral challenges.
6. Restorative Practices: These focus on repairing harm and building positive relationships within the school community. These practices emphasize dialogue, empathy and accountability to resolve conflicts and promote a sense of belonging
7. Peer Mediation: These programs train students to mediate conflicts between their peers. Trained mediators help to facilitate discussions and guide students in finding mutually agreeable solutions to conflicts.

These behavioral supports are typically implemented by a team of educators, administrators, counselors, and other school staff. The goal is to create a supportive and inclusive school environment that promotes positive behavior, academic success and overall well-being for all students.

Answer 2

Behavioral support starts by figuring out why a behavior is happening and determining the best and most natural responses to support the student. School staff is responsible for applying natural consequences and responses to behavioral missteps to provide a safe and secure learning environment for all students. The consequences may include but are not limited to lunch, after-school, and/or Saturday detentions community services, suspension, behavior and attendance contracts, and expulsion.