MiBLSi - The Jr. Huskie Way!
Michigan's Integrated Behavior & Learning Support Initiative
Positive Behavior Support is happening at North Middle School! You can view the MiBLSi presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint or as a PDF document.
Portage North Middle School teaches, models, and holds students and staff accountable for upholding, "The Jr. Huskie Way!"
A Paradigm Shift for North Middle School
The old way:
If students don't know how to read...... we teach them.
If students can't do a math problem...... we teach them.
If students don't know how to behave appropriately... we (used to) simply provide disciplinary consequences for them.
The new way:
If students don't know how to behave appropriately... we TEACH THEM!
...North Middle School is committed to teaching all of the above, or teaching the "whole" child by using a positive behavior support model for behavior management.
"A major advance in school-wide discipline is the emphasis on school-wide systems of support that include proactive strategies for defining, teaching, and supporting appropriate student behaviors to create positive school environments." [http://www.pbis.org/schoolwide.htm]
What is, "The Jr. Huskie Way?"
"The Jr. Huskie Way" is our way of defining positive behaviors that honor the three R's: Respect, Responsibility, and Relationships in our corridors, cafeteria, locker rooms, lunchtime recreation and other common areas/activities of the school.
What have we done to prepare students and staff?
At the end of the 2007-2008 school year, we collected and analyzed data relevant to discipline, attendance, and achievement. During the summer and prior to the beginning of school for students; a number of staff members attended PBS training; staff members also participated in developing positive behavior standards that exemplify respect, responsibility, and relationships in each of the common areas of the school. A leadership team presented a positive behavior matrix that was adopted by the staff for immediate implementation for the 2008-2009 school year.
Students were welcomed on day-one by staff members promoting, "The Jr. Huskie Way!" Professional banners hung in the entrance and all corridors. Staff t-shirts promoting respect, responsibility and relationships were worn in unison on the first day to reinforce, "The Jr. Huskie Way." Positive behavior learning stations were created for students and staff to participate in during the first half-day of school. Staff members who did not have a homeroom collaborated to create and act out skits providing examples of expected behaviors, as well as non-examples, and allowed students to practice these behaviors as well.
What if my child already knows how to behave appropriately?
Creating a culture of positive behavior has allowed us to honor, reinforce and reward positive behavior. Students earn raffle tickets for doing things that exemplify one of the three R's. Teachers then turn in the ticket stubs during the week for the Monday weekly drawing. Students are selected at random to win Jr. Huskie Den dollars, school supplies, and other smaller reinforcements. Other reinforcements may include mall gift certificates, Northern High School Athletic Passes, t-shirts, etc. At the end of each month, students who have earned tickets throughout the entire month, will be entered into a drawing for a larger-ticket item.
Is the program making a difference?
During the first two weeks of school, staff members officially recognized over 1200 positive behaviors and referred only 3 students for inappropriate behavior. The climate among staff and students has been extremely positive and polite/respectful. There have been more "pleases," "thank you's," "excuse me's," door holding for others, and numerous respectful gestures that have allowed staff and students to connect in a really positive way.
What is the Advisory Period?
The Advisory Period is a 20-minute class dedicated to promoting the three R's through small group activities, and which will eventually enable us to begin to work more comprehensively on achievement and literacy. The first nine-weeks of the Advisory period will be focused primarily on reinforcing the expected behaviors in each of the common areas and at various activities. There have been a variety of activities initiated during this period that not only support the behavior initiatives, but also promote literacy through "read-aloud" activities, John Collin's writing practice, and sustained-silent reading. Literacy and achievement activities will become more of a focus after the first nine weeks.
For more information on national Positive Behavior Support programs and philosophies, please go to: http://www.pbis.org/schoolwide.htm or call Dr. Celeste Shelton-Harris, Principal or Kim Kirshman, Assistant Principal.
The North Middle School MiBLSi Leadership Team consists of the following staff members who are also able to provide information:
Brandon Baker ~ Special Education Instructor (8th Grade)
Jen Barnhard ~ Special Education Instructor (6th - 8th Grade)
Jeanne Burnham ~ English Language Arts Instructor (6th Grade)
Nellie Delong ~ Student Assistance Coordinator/Peer Coach
Molly Hamman ~ PPS Middle School Behavior Consultant
Ahren Kaylor ~ Physical Education and Science Instructor (6th - 8th Grade)
Sharon Kelly ~ English Language Arts Instructor (7th Grade)
Kim Kirshman ~ Assistant Principal
Megan Richter ~ Special Education Instructor (7th Grade)
Celeste Shelton-Harris ~ Principal
Matt Swanson ~ Technology Education Instructor (6th - 8th Grade)
Johanna Toth ~ English Language Arts Instructor (6th Grade)
Mary Bechtel ~ KRESA MiBLSi Coach
Kim St. Martin ~ Regional MiBLSi Coach