Positive Behavior Over Time

There have been studies that look at behavior programs, and shown their benefits. We know that students benefit from the use of programs that help teach students social and behavioral skills.

This study looked at School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) in a number of schools over five years, and compared it to schools that did not use SWPBIS. They schools who did not use SWPBIS did use other programs, but they were not as all encompassing as SWPBIS. The researchers found that the schools using SWPBIS showed significant improvements in behavior and learning.

Two points were made about the programs; they were school wide and lasted for five years. Programs like this are most effective when everyone supports them and when they are repeated every year. The two are connected. When a school uses a program over a number of years the teachers get behind it. Unfortunately most schools do not stick with any program either from lack of money or leadership.

Application
The school needs to focus as one on a program like this. It is not enough for one teacher to teach the students about behavior and social situations. The training needs to be school wide and last longer than a year. Difficult to do if you are the not the principal.

Social and Emotional Teaching

If you are a you have probably been told that we need to teach students how to deal with social situations and emotional turmoil. When I heard those things I would try not to roll my eyes. It was my job to teach my students English. Social and emotional learning, also called character education, was someone else’s responsibility. I did not mind character education as long as it did not interfere with teaching English. I never considered that there was a connection between social and emotional learning and academic learning.

There is a study that has shown a connection between the three. Researchers looked at a number of schools that used some form of character education. They found that the students who had social and emotional training scored higher on their academic assessments than the ones who did not.

They also found those students who had the training proved to be less disruptive and distracting in the classroom. So the students are better able to deal with all the social and emotional problems that come with growing up, and they learn better as a result. I have to say that this makes sense. Students that less distracted are more engaged with their learning.

Application
I have seen several character development programs, and they work to varying degrees. I think part of the issue with this is that educators do not always take programs like this seriously, I know I didn’t. The students pick up on this an act accordingly. Part of the solution is to tell teachers of the proven benefits of using this kind of training. The program Film Clips for Character Education is effective. I have seen it used effectively and with great results. Check out the videos on the site.