Wellbeing

SWPBS

PCMS: Positive Classroom Management Strategies

The Positive Classroom Management Strategies (PCMS) are a set of evidence-informed instructional practices that can be applied in any classroom setting to create safer, more purposeful learning environments that support student learning and wellbeing. At Whittlesea Primary School, staff use the 8 PCMS's in conjunction with our SWPBS strategies and school expectations.

The PCMS’s are founded on these guiding principles:  

● Appropriate and inappropriate behaviours are related to the environment in which they occur.  Environments can encourage appropriate or inappropriate behaviours. 

● Behaviour is functional. Individuals learn to use behaviours to get their needs met. Behaviour that works is likely to continue.  

● Behaviour can be taught. It is possible to teach alternative replacement behaviours to meet students’ needs more appropriately. 

The eight PCMS's are practices that impact instructional time and positively impact engaged time, where students are actively engaged in learning. Below are each of the strategies and how they are utilised within our school.

Disability Inclusion

This week, we are starting a series on different types of disabilities and learning difficulties.

ADHD - What is it?

Key facts

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that begins in early childhood.
• ADHD affects your brain’s executive functioning — and your ability to self-regulate and control thoughts, words, actions and emotions.
• If you are concerned that you may have ADHD, the first step is to see a doctor.

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that begins in early childhood. ADHD used to be called attention deficit disorder (ADD).

ADHD is often misunderstood. It can cause problems:

• concentrating
• becoming distracted
• being hyperactive (sometimes)
• being impulsive

This may cause people with ADHD to have problems with their:

• schooling
• friendships
• work
• family life

Around 1 in every 20 Australians has ADHD. While ADHD is more common in boys, it’s underdiagnosed in girls and adults. More than 3 in 4 children diagnosed with ADHD still have symptoms as adults.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

ADHD can present in 3 ways:

1. Inattentive symptoms — a person is easily distractible but isn’t hyperactive or impulsive. 
2. Hyperactive-impulsive symptoms — a person has symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity.
3. Combined symptoms — a person has a mixture of symptoms including hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity.

Inattentive symptoms

People with inattentive ADHD may have these symptoms:

• A tendency to start but not finish tasks
• Putting off tasks that need sustained effort
• Being easily distracted or daydreaming
• Having trouble remembering things
• Having difficulty organising tasks, activities, belongings or time
• Losing things
• Not following instructions
• Not paying attention to detail and making careless mistakes
• Struggling to focus and concentrate on tasks they find boring or tedious

Hyperactive-impulsive symptoms

People with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD may have these symptoms:

• Fidgeting and squirming more than others
• Talking non-stop and interrupting conversations
• Blurting out answers before the question has been finished
• Reacting quickly to situations without thinking about the consequences
• Badgering their parent, partner or friends when they want something
• Finding boredom intolerable
• Looking for stimulation
• Participating in risk taking or dangerous behaviour
• Choosing a smaller reward now rather than a larger reward later

Combined symptoms

Some people have symptoms of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD.

What causes ADHD?

People with ADHD have differences in their brain anatomy and function. The exact causes of ADHD aren’t known. Genetic studies show that ADHD is an inherited disorder.

Research has shown that ADHD symptoms are related to the biology of your brain.

When should I see my doctor?

It’s normal for people to get restless and distracted from time to time. But when you have ADHD, your symptoms are persistent and interfere with your work or school and friendships.

If you are concerned that you or your child may have ADHD, the first step is to see a doctor. They will most likely refer you to a psychologist.

A psychologist can only make a diagnosis after a detailed assessment of behaviour. Many behavioural disorders can cause symptoms of ADHD, especially in young children. It's important to have a proper assessment.