Behavioral Strategies at Home
Stefanie LaPolla
October 3, 2012
“It takes a village to raise a
child.” ~ African Proverb
Classroom
Family
Non-classroom
Student
Horner & Sugai,
2009
Setting Expectations
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Just a few (3-5)
Simple wording
Basic expectations
Positively stated
Specific
Involve children
Realistic
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Observable behaviors
Measurable
Publicly posted
Tie to consequences
Consistently enforced
Review and periodically
update
Expectations
What are your expectations?
Why are these behaviors important enough to be considered
your expectations?
Cite specific ways in which you teach these behaviors. Why is
this important?
What do you do when your child does not demonstrate the
expected behaviors?
Miss Mutner liked
to go over a few
of her rules...
No talking
No running
No sneezing
No betting
No looking out the window
No dorky hairstyles
No coughing
No laughing
No fighting
No swearing
No sleeping
No making fun of teacher
No drugs
No weapons
No bringing animals to school
No looking at the clock
No looking out the window
No stupid remarks
No coming in late
No coming in early
No humming
No gum chewing
No gum popping
No sneering
No spitting
Explicitly Teaching Expectations
The Importance of Setting Rules
• Provides structure and consistency
• Allows for the maintenance of a positive
environment
• Promotes accountability
Discipline is….
The actions parents and teachers take
to increase student success (Charles,
1980).
Prevention
Rules,
Routines,
Arrangements
Reaction
Positive and
Negative
Consequences
Discipline Works When ….
Prevention creates more Positive than
negative consequences
Reinforcement
(success)
4:1
Punishment
(failure)
The quickest way to change
behavior….in anyone.
To address behavior:
Being Proactive instead of reactive.
– We brainstorm where problems might occur:
• In the car
• Family room
• Bathroom
– We brainstorm when problems might occur:
• Transitions
• Meal times
• Academics/homework
– We brainstorm who might have problems:
• Certain children together
• Certain children when they are overtired
We want to be one step ahead of the children.
Continuum of Reinforcement
Natural Success
 Nod, wink, thumbs up
 “Thanks”
 Public acknowledgement
 Token acknowledgement
 Privileges
 Tangibles (small to large)

*The ultimate goal is to be towards the
upper portion of the continuum.
How can you catch your kids
being good…
• …in the grocery store
• …getting ready for bed
• …in the car
• …playing with their
friends
Providing Reinforcement
• What privileges could your child earn for
demonstrating appropriate behavior?
– Deciding what movie the family watches for
family movie night
– Picking a weekend activity
– Reading an extra book at bedtime
– Having friends over to the house to play
Behavioral Expectations and Matrix…
each family can align school expectations
with family expectations…
Mealtimes
Respect Self
Bathroom
Make healthy Maintain privacy
Food choices
TV Time
Leave TV
behind at
agreed time
Respect Others Share treats Flush
Share the
clicker
Respect the
Environment
Pick up after
yourself
before leaving
the TV area
Put dirty
Pick up wet towels
dishes in sink
Teach what it looks like to the family
RESPECT
HOUSE
CAR
OTHER’S
HOUSES
PUBLIC
(STORE
ETC.)
OTHERS
Pick up your
belongings.
Keep hands
and feet to
self
Offer to help
clean up
Keep hands
and feet to
self
COMMUNITY
Clean up
trash that
might blow in
others yards
Keep food
and drink
inside car
Say please and
thank you
Keep voice
to a three
inch level
KNOWLEDGE
Study and do Take
Ask questions
homework in something to
so you know
set time
read in the car their rules
Take a book
to read in
case you get
bored
SELF
Get plenty of
sleep
Act with
good
manners
Go to the
restroom
before we
leave
Use kind words
Getting Getting to
up in
school
the
morning
Clean-up
time
Time to
relax
Homework
time
Mealtime
Getting
ready for
bed
R
Y
D
A
Y
H
HELP OUT
O
OWN YOUR
BEHAVIOR
M
MANNERS
COUNT
E
V
E
QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU! 
Resources
• www.interventioncentral.org
• www.pbisworld.com
• Stefanie LaPolla
[email protected]