Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) is a more proactive, effective and efficient practice of supporting students in reaching their full potential than traditional “wait to fail” models. The foundation of an effective behavioral MTSS system is a strong tier one that includes all of the research based core components for effectively managing challenging behavior of ALL students.
Positive Behavior Support is often misunderstood as being another program or curriculum when in fact it is an extension of applied behavioral analysis or behavior science that provides a framework for developing an evidence based MTSS system.
Applied Behavioral Analysis provides educators with the A-B-C Model, which serves as a blueprint for classroom management and underpins the Positive Behavior Support framework. In this model, the “A” stands for antecedent and refers to all the environmental factors that come before a problem behavior occurs. The “B” stands for the problematic behavior itself, and the “C” stands for the consequence - either positive or negative - that follows the student's behavior.
Antecedent strategies from tier one take place before problem behaviors occur, building a foundation that benefits all students. Three critical components include:
Expectations, Procedures, and Routines - This includes creating expectations, procedures, and routines that are positively worded and clearly communicated.
Environmental Design - Strategic environmental, or classroom, design refers to the way you set up your learning environment to make learning attainable for everyone.
Instructional Design - This focuses on crafting instruction that's engaging and appropriate for each individual student.
Exceptional Child includes over 70 online PD courses, including many courses on managing challenging behavior.