This Pyramid Model share site will not be maintained after June 30, 2025 due to the 'retirement' of MNCoE.

Supporting Individual Children

Articles to Support Staff in Working through Challenging Behavior

Tips for Responding to Challenging Behavior in Young Children

Pyramid Equity Project

Image of Article on Escalation Cycle and linked to article

Managing the Cycle of Acting---Out Behavior in the Classroom

Calvin, 2004

Routines Based Support Guides for a Variety of Ages

These Routines Based Support Guides are full of great information to support caretakers and or classroom teams in addressing behaviors that take place during challenging routines of the day. Take a look at each guide and reflect on who you might want to share specific guides with from your district or program? How might you share portions of the Family Routine Support Guide with caretakers without overwhelming them with the entire guide? How might these tools be helpful in pre-referral planning for individual children?

Tucker Turtle

Tucker Turtle Visuals

How might staff pre-teach Tucker Turtle to all children?
How might staff use Tucker Turtle to help a child struggling with challenging behavior?
What additional resources/materials might be helpful for children to learn about the Tucker Turtle technique?
Where in a classroom might you have these visuals to support individual children?

Calm Down Corners in Classrooms

Thank you to GCED , Big Lake, and Robbinsdale for sharing examples of Calm Down Corner resources from your programs.

What resources/materials might staff need to create calm down corners in their classrooms?
What teaching will need to take place to help children understand when a calm down corner can be used?
What needs to be communicated to caretakers regarding calm down corners in classrooms?
How will consistency be created amongst classroom staff regarding how calm down corners are used in each classroom?
How will children be supported while accessing a calm down corner?
How do we ensure children are given a choice in accessing a calm down corner?

Additional Calming Strategies from Programs in Minnesota

How can ideas like these be shared with families? What opportunities might you have to create calming materials with families to use outside of the classroom?

Thank you Pyramid Model teams in MN for contributing to these examples, including Virginia and Kelliher!

How to Access Behavior Coach Support

Check out the system Westonka's team put in place for staff to request the support of a Behavior Coach.

What might this process look like in your program?

How is this communicated to all staff so all staff are aware of the process? Where is it documented?

How is this process reviewed to determine effectiveness and how frequently?

Westonka BC Support Access Steps.pdf

Thank you Westonka for sharing this example!

Westonka BC Access Request Form.pdf

Problem Solving Process-Brainerd.pdf

Thank you Brainerd for sharing this example!

Site Examples of Flow Charts for Responding to Challenging Behavior

Does your team have a flowchart documenting the steps staff go through to seek support for a child experiencing challenging behavior?
Does your team have a Crisis Plan that all staff are aware of regarding steps to take in the event of a crisis related to behavior?
If so, where are these plans documented?
How do all staff become aware of these plans?
How often are these plans reviewed and/or updated?
How are these plans shared with families?
If your team does not have a flowchart or plan in place, how might you go about initiating that process?
Who would need to be involved in those conversations?