Implement Tier 1 Behavior Strategies
Safe and supportive school climates don't emerge and sustain themselves by accident. They're developed and maintained through leadership and deliberate, coordinated efforts. Learn how to effectively implement positive behavior strategies.
Back to Tier 1 practices
New Staff Onboarding
All Staff Workshops
Coaching Support
Fidelity Assessment
When new teachers, paraprofessionals, etc. join the district, their onboarding training should familiarize them with the fundamental strategies that all staff in the district are expected to understand, recognize, and apply.
The training materials we've shared cover the fundamentals:
Preventative Reminders
Opportunities to Respond (OTRs)
Effective Commands
Expectations, Rules, and Procedures
Affirmative Attention
Continuum of Response Strategies
Work with your experienced staff to ensure that your customized training materials are a good fit for your school.
The example above is designed for school staff. Here's an 🚌 example for bus drivers.
New Staff Onboarding
All Staff Workshops
Coaching Support
Fidelity Assessment
On a monthly or quarterly schedule, gather all staff.
Share macro-level behavior data — for example:
Bar charts that indicate trends in discipline referrals over the past month or quarter (e.g., type of behavior, time of day, location, etc.)
SEL assessment data (e.g., mySAEBRS screener)
Anonymous fidelity data (e.g., from your walkthroughs)
Take action — problem solve and learn. For example:
Apply your fundamental strategies to relevant scenarios to refresh staff.
Share tips and tools about a large variety of strategies (check out prepped examples).
There is a generic template and also versions for 🟡🔴🟢🔵 Chisago Lakes, East Central, Hinckley-Finlayson, North Branch, Pine City, and Rush City.
New Staff Onboarding
All Staff Workshops
Coaching Support
Fidelity Assessment
Coaching Entry Points
Here are a few examples of how a district might allocate coaching resources:
Self-nomination: During behavior workshops (see above), PLC meetings, etc. staff could have the opportunity to self-nominate via a Google Form.
New staff: After their onboarding training, new teachers/staff automatically receive one or more observation/feedback cycles.
Existing staff cohorts: A series of observation/feedback cycles are provided, and staff "graduate" once data indicates proficiency. Check out a progress tracking spreadsheet designed for this type of program.
Coaching Sequence
Here's a summarized sequence based on the provided coaching form:
Pre-observation meeting: Objectives are clarified and decisions are made regarding real-time feedback (see below). The coach may also model one or more strategies. **NOTE: This meeting may be unnecessary if the format is already decided/communicated (see "Entry Points" above).
Tallying: The coach spends 5 minutes observing and tallying the high-frequency strategies listed on the coaching form.
Real-time feedback (optional): The coach spends 10 minutes giving real time feedback (e.g., using a card to cue the teacher when there's an opportunity to use a strategy; using an in-ear microphone to coach).
Delayed feedback: Post-observation, the coach shares areas of success and suggestions for growth during a ~5 minute chat.
This coaching form was developed based on exemplars from national and state PBIS centers.
Coach Certification
Before using this form solo, we recommend that new coaches co-observe twice with an experienced user to ensure reliability. If one is not available in your building, reach out to your SEL or Social Behavior Services Coordinator.
Prior to observing a real classroom, you can practice using video recordings: video 1, video 2, video 3, video 4.
New Staff Onboarding
All Staff Workshops
Coaching Support
Fidelity Assessment
An objective reading on how behavior strategies are actually being applied across the school building equips leaders to effectively support staff.
A recommended method for collecting fidelity data is a walkthrough (admin/specialist-led) or learning walk (teachers are involved). The purpose is to obtain a quick, non-evaluative system check across the whole school. Teacher names are not collected. Here's a 🎥 video about learning walks (5:14).
Develop a schedule for walkthroughs at regular intervals (e.g., quarterly). When you share the anonymous data with staff (see above), this is an opportunity for teachers to request coaching.
Behavior strategies can also be incorporated into the district's teacher observation rubric, enabling mentor teachers and administrators to share feedback regarding the use of specific strategies.
Learning Walk Form - Essential Positive Behavior StrategiesThis example walkthrough form uses rating scales. Ideally, tally marks are recommended.
Teacher Observation Rubric (Danielson-Based)Here's an example of the Danielson observation rubric with annotation re: behavior strategies.
Sources and Further Learning
Center on PBIS ("Supporting and Responding to Students' Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs") — On page 21, Table 3.1 of this document, you'll find an explanation of how training, coaching, and fidelity data should interact to establish teacher proficiency in classroom behavior strategies.
Florida PBIS Project ("PBIS Classroom Practices") — Explanation of how training, coaching, and fidelity data should interact to establish teacher proficiency in classroom behavior strategies.
University of Missouri ("Classroom Check-Up") — A program that uses reflective coaching (post-observation performance feedback) to establish teacher proficiency in classroom behavior strategies.
Institute of Educational Sciences ("Continuous Improvement in Education: A Toolkit for Schools and Districts") — General information about the continuous improvement process in schools.