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This is a short and sweet explanation of PBIS.

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This video provides a great explanation on 5 of the essentials of PBIS and how they can be used by families.

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This image shows us a great visual of the tiers of PBIS and what that looks like for families

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This article provides 10 strategies parents can use at home as well as additional resources and information

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Family members participate in planning teams; learn how to teach their children the importance of school-wide expectations at home and in the community, and volunteer to participate in related school activities including school celebrations, public relations, and the search for donations and free re…

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This article explains why routines are important when using PBIS and provides examples of home routines supported by PBIS

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A schoolwide PBIS initiative can impact school climate in multiple ways, including improving academic achievement, reducing discipline referrals, and increasing attendance. The foundation of PBIS in any school is its schoolwide PBIS matrix, which helps the school community establish a common language and identify universal goals for behavior. The schoolwide matrix applies to all community members and is often used as the primary measurement for behavior within the classroom.

Many educators, however, take the schoolwide matrix a step further. They use the schoolwide PBIS matrix to develop a classroom behavior matrix for the unique atmosphere of their specific classroom.

What is a Classroom Behavior Matrix?

Like a schoolwide PBIS matrix, the classroom behavior matrix is a simple table that defines concise and positive expectations in various settings. It can also be used to explain classroom routines and configurations. Examples of settings and configurations where classroom expectations apply include:

Center time

Independent practice

Formal evaluations

Small group discussions

Technology use

Depending on what is outlined in the schoolwide matrix, teachers can further define desired behaviors in specific circumstances, including walking in the hallway, taking a restroom break, or recess.

How to Develop a Classroom Behavior Matrix

A classroom matrix is unique to the confines of the classroom and your students' time there. Remember, however, that it should reflect the behaviors outlined in the schoolwide matrix. How do you develop a classroom matrix?

Use the schoolwide behavior matrix as a guide

In order to create an effective classroom matrix, look to the schoolwide matrix. Take the core principles outlined there and apply them to your classroom environment. This is an opportunity to drill down into specific behaviors for specific situations. Referring to the school-wide matrix reinforces consistency and common language.

Get student input

A successful classroom matrix relies on buy-in from your students. Ask them to envision specific behaviors for each of the core principles within the classroom. This input will help to generate buy-in from everyone involved in your classroom community.

Teach and model behaviors

When it comes to outlining specific behaviors in the classroom, it's often helpful to teach through roleplay and modeling. Illustrate what each behavior looks like in action instead of simply telling students what you expect. Reteach expectations as needed.

Post your matrix prominently in the classroom

A large matrix posted in a prominent place can help to remind students of the behaviors they should demonstrate. If your classroom includes learning stations, you can also post portions of your matrix specific to those areas in each location.

Share with parents/guardians

To extend behavioral learning beyond the classroom, involve your students' parents or guardians. Provide them with a copy of your classroom matrix and encourage them to talk often with their student about these behaviors.

Adapting Your Classroom Behavior Matrix

Some teachers choose to take their classroom matrix a step further and outline expectations for those times when students are away from the classroom. During periods of remote or hybrid learning, students can continue to demonstrate positive behaviors. This can include technology-specific actions such as having webcams on and microphones muted, as well as being considerate with both spoken and written comments during online class time.

Behavior matrices can also extend into the home, allowing your students' parents or guardians to take a more active role in developing positive behaviors. For periods of extended remote learning, you can adapt your classroom matrix to include actions and expectations that the adults in the home can use to ensure smooth transitions. These expectations can be especially useful when parents are working from home while their children are also learning remotely.

Using PBIS Rewards in the Classroom and Schoolwide

Consistency in recognizing positive behaviors enables these behaviors to become an integral part of school culture. A digital token economy can make it easy to award, track, and redeem points schoolwide.

PBIS Rewards helps schools to establish schoolwide values, identify what those values look like in action, and easily reward students for positive behaviors. In the classroom, teachers can use the schoolwide behavior matrix as a guide for defining classroom-specific behaviors. They can also create their own teacher store, independent of the school store, to offer incentives unique to their classroom community.

To get an in-depth look at PBIS Rewards in action, request a demo. The demo illustrates how schools can customize the system to reflect their schoolwide values and create a points system to encourage positive behavior. Recognize students and award points anytime, anywhere!

Download All Matrix Guides

Here are some related articles you may find interesting:

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How to Create a Classroom Behavior Matrix

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The classroom behavior matrix is a table that defines expectations in various settings. It can also be used to explain classroom routines.

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This website teachers parents how to set up their own token economy and provides resources so they can create their own.

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Token Economy:

6 Steps on How to Set Up a Token Economy

The world we live in uses various token economies regularly where we earn money and exchange that money for something we want. In the field of ABA, the token economy can be applied in the same way. Behavior Frontiers(2011), stated "a token economy is a system in which tokens are earned for appropriate behaviors and exchanged later for reinforcers." This is a useful tool to work on an individual's attending skills, task completion, or display of the desired behaviors.

According to Cooper and his associates from Ohio State University (Cooper et al., 2007), there are 6 steps to set up a token econom y:

Identify the target behavior s or rules

Select the backup reinforcers

Establish the ratio of exchange

Establish a procedure for when and how tokens will be dispensed and exchanged

Field test the system

When deciding what tokens an individual will earn it is best to use tokens that are engaging and age appropriate. For young kids, you can use their favorite characters as tokens. When I used this economy for one of my younger clients, we used the Cars Pixar characters as tokens. For older individuals, you can use stars, plastic chips, stickers, or other tokens that are aligned with their interest. When implementing the economy, here are some tips for teaching the individual about tokens:

Show that the tokens have value.

Establish that only you can provide access to the tokens

The individual should not have access themselves without earning the tokens.

Identify the target behaviors and rules

When starting a token economy, it is best to start and focus on a small number of behaviors to work on. For one of my clients, I used a token economy to focus on an attending skill. With the token economy, I provided the tokens only when the client displayed the behaviors that supported the client was attending. As I provided each token, I paired it with social praise and informed the client why they were given the token, such as: "Nice sitting in your chair!". The focus of the token economy should on those behaviors or skills that would benefit the individual the most.

After identifying the target behaviors, you will then use a preference assessment to establish backup reinforcers that can be used as the main reinforcing item or activity. When conducting a preference assessment, be sure to have items or activities that are valuable and motivating for the individual to work towards. As you conduct the preference assessment for the backup reinforcers, here are some tips:

Be sure to have a variety of backup reinforcers. Depending on the individual's age, they can range and may include some of the following:

Tangible items (Example: playing with a new toy)

Edibles (Example: potato chips)

Activities (Example: water play)

Privileges (Example: Using the iPad)

Services (Example: Pass to have breakfast in bed)

Use the backup reinforcers specifically for the token economy

If the individual receives the reinforcer outside the token economy, it will no longer be motivating for the individual to work towards if the token economy is still being implemented.

If you plan to use larger rewards, for example movie night or buying a new game, be sure to plan them ahead of time and have them available strategically upon earning the reward.

Establish the ratio of exchange

In this step you will determine how many tokens will need to be earned to acquire the reinforcer. When you begin implementing the token economy, start by teaching it on a small scale by having the individual earn a small number of tokens. When I started to implement a token economy, I showed the individual that in order to gain the reinforcer they will need to earn 5 tokens, with only one or two boxes left empty. As you are teaching the individual about the token economy and what it stands for, here are some tips:

Start by providing a small number of tokens at a quick pace

Once the individual understands and becomes accustomed to how the token economy works you can then increase the number of tokens the individual will need to earn the valued reinforcer.

Establish a procedure for when and how tokens will be dispensed and exchanged

In my experience, I provided the tokens only when the individual displayed the appropriate behaviors and stored them on a token board. Another way to store the earned tokens can be through a jar. Once the individual gains the required number of tokens it can then be exchanged for the valued reinforcer. When beginning implementation of the token economy, it will be important to teach the individual how to use it and the benefits it will bring to them. To see an example on how a token economy is implemented, please click here.

Before implementing the token economy, it is best to first do a practice run by using a tally board and see how many tallies you would give for the individual displaying the appropriate behaviors.

Have you used a token economy? If so, do you have any other suggestions or helpful hints to share?

Check out other Behavior Therapy related blogs on our site:
https://aba-works.com/3-top-questions-for-abc-data/
References

Behavior Frontiers. (2011, June 17). T oken Economy - Autism Therapy Video [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGc8dFdQsJw.
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Token Economy, Group Contingencies, and Contingency Contracting. Applied B ehavior A nalysis (2nd ed.). Pearson

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Token Economy: 6 Best Steps on How to Set Up a Token Economy - ABA Works

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Token Economy: 6 Steps on How to Set Up a Token Economy The world we live in uses various token economies regularly where we earn money and exchange that money for something we want. In the field of ABA, the token economy can be applied in the same way.

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This resource provides great insights on PBIS and how it can be used in the home. It also provides many detailed examples of PBIS principles and how they can easily be implemented by parents

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This article provides insight for families on PBIS and resources for virtual learning

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This is another great video that gives parents examples of how they can use PBIS in their every day interactions with their children.

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PBIS At-Home: 5 Tips for Positive Behavior

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This chart is a great resource to use at home to set up a personalized goal/reward system