Motivating Adults for Success Laura A. Riffel, Ph.D.

How do we float the adult’s boats, so they help ALL the students?

Plan of Action- Step One Train everyone, at every level

Give teachers armor…. Give them praise for a job well done Reward them with things that float their boat Prepare them to implement PBIS Help them understand why certain behaviors happen.

Rules About Behavior Behavior is learned and serves a specific purposeBehavior is related to the context within which it occurs For every year that a behavior has been in place, it takes one month of consistent, appropriate intervention for us to see a major change We can improve behavior by 80% just by pointing out what one person is doing correctly

What roadblocks do you run into? These are some of the current pitfalls to success…..

I shouldn’t have to do anything. Kids know what they are supposed to do, why should I have to compliment them, give them rewards, or offer incentives of any sort?

How’s that working for you?

I don’t have time to do all this… Which fits your busy schedule better, exercising one hour a day or being dead 24 hours a day?

Plan of Action Train everyone, at every level Take time to learn about your students

You do know what you’re going to get……

Plan of Action Train everyone, at every level Take time to learn about your students Eliminate excuses

The view that circumstances and other people prevent you from achieving your goals. Ignoring or pretending not to know about your accountability. Denying your accountability Citing confusion as a reason for inaction. Asking others to tell you what to do. Claiming that you can not get the expected results. Waiting to see if the situation will miraculously resolve itself.

Why it can’t be done vs. What else can I do? “ A reason becomes an excuse, if given and accepted twice.” –Examples: “ I didn’t have enough time.”, “ If we only had the resources.”, “That’s not my job.”, ‘It’s the parents’ fault.”,, “ I did not know.”, “These are Title One kids,” “These are single parent households.”

Burn all your old excuses

Change The Mindset BE POSITIVE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS 5 to 1 positive to negative 2 for 10

Ring the bell and focus on Results Accountability: Always be on the look out for positive behaviors. What do we want to achieve, how do we achieve it, & why is it important? Tickets…are like ringing the bell.

Let’s ring some bells…..

Plan of Action Train everyone, at every level Take time to learn about your students Eliminate excuses Reward accountability

We catch kids being good.

How do we catch adults being good? "What they see, is what I get" Alan Johnson (Great Expectations)

Communicating Dependable Positive Relationships Among Teachers

Communicator Award for the teacher who is a great communicator to students and staff. They are effective with their words and their actions.

Dependable Award for the teacher whom you think is a very dependable person. They have an impeccable attendance record. They are always there to help people. They are worthy of trust.

Positive Award for the teacher whom you think is a spark to our staff. This person is almost always positive. They pick people up when they are down. They have a zest for life.

Relationships Award for the teacher that is a great builder of relationships among his or her students and fellow staff members. They are the glue that holds the building together.

Plan of Action Train everyone, at every level Take time to learn about your students Eliminate excuses Reward accountability

Use Your Head, Heart, Hands “ Only by accepting full ownership of all the past and present behavior that keeps you mired in your current circumstances, can you hope to improve your future situation.”

You’ve Got the Power…

ANYTHING is Possible

Listen to the Mustn'ts Listen to Mustn'ts, child, listen to the Don'ts. Listen to the Shouldn'ts, the Impossibles, the Won'ts. Listen to the Never Haves, then listen close to me. Anything can happen, child, Anything can be. -Shel Silverstein

ANYTHING is Possible

GO PBIS