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Time-Out Interventions

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When most people picture a time out, they tend to envision a punitive scene. Perhaps even a child sitting alone in a corner wearing a dunce cap and being scolded or lectured.  This however, is not the time-out intervention of the present. The process has evolved and grown into an effective intervention that can be used by educators and parents alike!  There are four main types of time out intervention as described by Ryan et al. (2007): Inclusion Least intensive, student remains in the classroom observing but not engaging with the lesson Exclusion  Student is still in the classroom but moved to a quiet corner and does not participate or observe the lesson Seclusion The student is removed from the classroom, usually to an empty classroom or office, and must remain there for a set period Restrained The most restrictive and intense time out. The student is physically restrained by a teacher with proper training for a set period For time-out interventions to be successful it ...
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Behavioral Intervention Plans

A Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP) is put in place by educators to help students struggling with appropriate classroom behaviors.     Students can struggle at school for a variety of reasons. Every student will exhibit challenging behaviors at some point. A behavioral intervention plan is designed to help students when their challenging behavior is consistent or affecting their own and other students' learning.    No two behavioral intervention plans will be alike; they should be tailored to the exact needs of the students. This is one of the most important parts of a BIP. Not every intervention will work for every student. Teachers must get to know their students and understand exactly why the behavior is occurring.    Another important and individualized aspect that affects BIP's is what motivates the student to maintain the intervention. Each student will have different interests and rewards which will keep them on track and motivated. It is esse...
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Addressing the Root Cause of Challenging Behaviors

It can often be very overwhelming for teachers when students are exhibiting challenging behaviors in the classroom. These behaviors frequently interrupt not only the student displaying them but the entire learning environment. It is therefore of the utmost importance that teachers are able to identify, analyze, and confront the root cause of these challenging behaviors. When faced with challenging behaviors, teachers can think of them like an illness. The behaviors them selves are the symptoms of a larger illness (the root cause). If the root cause is not addressed then the symptoms, or behaviors, will continue to pop up again and again.  There are many reasons that challenging behaviors may occur, and often it is not only due to some singular reason. Cheung and Cheung (2008) suggest the following possible causes:  Disrupted Social Bonds This happens when a student is unable to sustain relationships with peers. Delinquent Association When there is a group, neighborhood, or gan...
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Response to Intervention/MTSS

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Response to Intervention (RtI), also sometimes known as MTSS or Multi-Tiered System of Support, is a framework for providing supports to students based on their individualized needs.  The key to this system is the multi-tiered approach. The framework can be thought of as a pyramid with Tier 1 at the bottom and Tier 3 as the point at the top. The more intense and specialized the interventions get the higher the tier. The following image is an excellent reference:  Tier 1: Supports for all students. These are classroom or school-wide incentives like classroom behavior points, honor roll, or independent reading logs. Tier 2:  Small group supports for students with academic or behavioral needs. These interventions can include lunch bunches, study or social groups, or additional resources for assignments.  Tier 3:  Individualized intensive interventions. Typically, 1:1 counseling, pullouts, and academic instruction.  When there is proper training and collaborati...
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