School Wide Positive Behaviours (SWPBS) Update

Why Do We Explicitly Teach Our Expected Behaviours? 

Introducing, modelling and reinforcing positive social behaviour is an important step of a student’s educational experience. Explicitly teaching our behavioural expectations and acknowledging students for demonstrating them is key to our success. 

• They are necessary skills for success in life. 
• Many students arrive at school without these important skills. 
• They are the basis for a positive and safe climate. 
• Doing so increases opportunities to teach other skills.  

When Do We Teach Our Expected Behaviours? 

• At the beginning of the year/ Semester 
• Often enough to achieve and maintain fluency. 
• Before times when problem behaviours tend to increase. 
• Ongoing fortnightly explicit teaching of an expected behaviour focus (refresher lessons) 
• At teachable moments. 

Each fortnight as a college we have been having a focus on a specific behaviour from our SWPBS matrix. This has involved discussions, watching skits, participating in role plays and playing games around the fortnightly focus in mentor group as well as reminders in class and out in the yard. 

So far, the behaviours we have had a fortnight focus on have been: 

• Cleaning our classrooms before leaving 
• Active Listening 
• Taking Responsibility for your own actions 
• Respecting shared spaces 

Our first focus in Term 3 was: ‘returning borrowed belongings in the state we found them.’   

Our next fortnightly focus will be on ‘waiting for teacher instruction before using ICT.’ Our challenge as a college will be to have a ‘tech-free’ day on Thursday the 3rd of August.  

Allana Constance  

Leading Teacher for Student Voice, Agency and Leadership