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Ms. Carissa Ferrugia’s Classroom Edit display name

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Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a way for us to reinforce, teach and encourage good behavior. When utilizing PBIS strategies, my students learn about behavior, just as they learn other subjects like math or science. One strategy that I utilize is points. My students earn PACK Points every day in every class. When they leave class, we scan their badges and give them points. They get points for PACK (Perseverance, Accountability, Cooperation and Kindness). They can use their points to purchase items from our PACK Den Store (our mascot is the wolf). My students can buy PACK Parties, dress-down days, no homework passes, snacks, sports items, purses, beauty items, school supplies and so many other things. According to several studies, PBIS leads to better student behavior. In schools that use PBIS, students receive fewer detentions and suspensions. There’s less bullying. The key to PBIS is prevention, positivity and love, not punishment. Every child can learn proper behavior and PBIS prevents more serious behavior problems as they reach adolescence and adulthood. Each child is different and we provide many kinds of behavior support; not just snacks. All of my students want and need positive reinforcement and praise (which I give them); some children want extrinsic rewards like snacks, headphones and so many other things. One of my students wants a porcelain tea set. I try to fulfill all of my student's serious wants, even if I have to spend all Saturday at 3 different GoodWill stores, I will find it, because they deserve it. They learn quickly that good behavior is rewarded and poor behavior is not rewarded. It is like an adult learning a new good habit, after we do it for almost a month, it becomes part of our norms.

About my class

Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) is a way for us to reinforce, teach and encourage good behavior. When utilizing PBIS strategies, my students learn about behavior, just as they learn other subjects like math or science. One strategy that I utilize is points. My students earn PACK Points every day in every class. When they leave class, we scan their badges and give them points. They get points for PACK (Perseverance, Accountability, Cooperation and Kindness). They can use their points to purchase items from our PACK Den Store (our mascot is the wolf). My students can buy PACK Parties, dress-down days, no homework passes, snacks, sports items, purses, beauty items, school supplies and so many other things. According to several studies, PBIS leads to better student behavior. In schools that use PBIS, students receive fewer detentions and suspensions. There’s less bullying. The key to PBIS is prevention, positivity and love, not punishment. Every child can learn proper behavior and PBIS prevents more serious behavior problems as they reach adolescence and adulthood. Each child is different and we provide many kinds of behavior support; not just snacks. All of my students want and need positive reinforcement and praise (which I give them); some children want extrinsic rewards like snacks, headphones and so many other things. One of my students wants a porcelain tea set. I try to fulfill all of my student's serious wants, even if I have to spend all Saturday at 3 different GoodWill stores, I will find it, because they deserve it. They learn quickly that good behavior is rewarded and poor behavior is not rewarded. It is like an adult learning a new good habit, after we do it for almost a month, it becomes part of our norms.

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