Navigating Behavior Change

Amanda Wilson, Ed.S., NCSP, BCBA, is CEO of Navigating Behavior Change—a professional development company committed to assisting educators in teaching, working with, and improving the lives of students who exhibit challenging behaviors. A nationally certified school psychologist with twenty years’ experience in diverse public school settings, Amanda has significant experience assisting school teams in developing and implementing positive behavior intervention frameworks. Visit www.navigatingbehaviorchange.com to learn more. Danielle Lindquist, M.Ed., BCBA, is a licensed special education teacher and board certified behavior analyst. She has extensive experience teaching students with significant mental health disorders and extreme interfering behavior, as well as coaching staff in providing effective supports.

• Foreword xiiiAbout the Authors xvIntroduction xviiHow It All Began xviiWhy We Wrote This Book xviiiHow to Use This Book xxFormat xxActivities xxResources xxi1 Foundations of Behavior 1What Does Behavior Have to Do with Universal Supports? 1The Brain: The Not-So-Big Elephant in the Room 5Why We Do What We Do 92 So You Want to Manage a Classroom? 17Debunking Common Classroom Management Myths 17Starting with the End in Mind 19We Ride “The Blame Train” 20We Make Assumptions 20We Opt for Compliance or Bust 20We Get Cozy in Consequence Land 21Values 22Components of Effective Universal Supports 243 Structuring Your Way to Success 29An Organized Classroom Supports Organized Behavior 29Arranging the Physical Layout 30What It Is 31Why It’s Effective 31How to Do It 31Communicating the Message Through Visual Aids 36What It Is 37Why It’s Effective 37How to Do It 38Additional Considerations 38Ensuring Predictability with Schedules and Lesson Agendas 40What It Is 41Why It’s Effective 41How to Do It 41Additional Considerations 42Creating Exceptional Expectations 42What It Is 44Why It’s Effective 46How to Do It 46Additional Considerations 49Road Mapping Routines for Independence 51What It Is 51Why It’s Effective 52How to Do It 52Additional Considerations 564 Leveling Up Your Instructional Practices 59Preparing with Precorrection 59What It Is 60Why It’s Effective 61How to Do It 61Additional Considerations 62Encouraging Cooperation with Instructional Choice 64What It Is 64Why It’s Effective 65How to Do It 65Additional Considerations 68Increasing Opportunities to Respond 70What It Is 71Why It’s Effective 71How to Do It 72Additional Considerations 76Getting Our Steps in with Active Supervision 77What It Is 77Why It’s Effective 78How to Do It 78Additional Considerations 81Packaging Up Your Lesson Delivery 82What It Is 83Why It’s Effective 83How to Do It 84Additional Considerations 895 Reinforcing Desirable Behaviors 91Rewards and Incentives and Bribery, Oh My! 91Common Statements and Misunderstandings Regarding Reinforcement 92Improving Feedback with Behavior-Specific Praise 96What It Is 97Why It’s Effective 98How to Do It 99Additional Considerations 101Embedding Reinforcement into the Classroom 1056 Responding to Challenging Behaviors 111Breaking Tradition 111Misapplied 112Overused 113Unresponsive 113Common Motivations for Ineffective Responses 114The Mirror: Taking a Long, Hard Look 117Responding Rather than Reacting 118Checking Our Communication 120Regulating: The Art of Defusing 123Why It’s Effective 123Developing Your Response Framework 124Additional Considerations 132Reflecting: Problem-Solving and Planning for the Future 133What It Is 134Why It’s Effective 134How to Do It 135Additional Considerations 136Restoring: Fixing Harm Done 137What It Is 137Why It Is Effective 137How to Do It 137Re-Engaging: Getting Everyone Back on Track 138What It Is 138Why It Is Effective 139How to Do It 1397 Putting It All Together 141Common Classroom Challenges 141Transitions and Tribulations 143Circle Time Circus 146Writing Retaliation 149Direct Instruction Disaster 1528 Problem-Solving Barriers 157Fidelity of Implementation 157Gaining Buy-In and Advocating for Change 158Appendix 163Reproducible Forms 163References 187Glossary 189Index 191