Visuals Aren't Just for Students
Now, we know that our students benefit from visuals when it comes to engaging in certain behaviors, but it’s time to consider the need for staff visuals as well!
Amanda and I spend just as much time creating visuals for adults as we do students. Why? Because our minds are able to process and comprehend things more efficiently when we actually see what we should be doing.
What visuals should I have for my staff when it comes to behavior?
The list really is endless and there is not right or wrong answer. Really, whatever is helpful for that individual or group of staff members to engage in the correct behaviors as they relate to your student’s behaviors.
Here are some examples:
- Prompt hierarchy
We live in a pretty prompt-dependent world. Getting our students to be as independent as possible when it comes to managing their own behaviors is the end goal. Knowing when to prompt and how to prompt is critical to getting students on the fast-track to independence. We didn’t sign up to hold our student’s hands throughout their entire life and they need to be able to self-manage and self-regulate on their own. Providing a prompt hierarchy visual can assist your staff in this process so they aren’t over-prompting, but cueing just the right amount at the right time to bring out those pro-social behaviors. - Steps on how to use a behavior strategy
If you really want to get some true behavior change, you need to ensure all staff members are implementing each strategy correctly, consistently. Let’s use the example of behavior specific praise; to use this strategy you first need to get the student’s attention. Next, you state the specific behavior they engaged in that you want to reinforce. Then, you follow up with a positive label. Outlining the steps to any behavior strategy will help ensure fidelity of the identified strategies you have decided to utilize. - Behavior plan flow charts
These are one of our absolute favorite staff visuals. Think about how complex some of our behavior plans can be. Who has time to whip out and read through a ten-page behavior plan during the day, let alone during a crisis? Behavior plan flow charts can come in many different forms, but essentially you are visually outlining the actions and behaviors staff need to engage in in response to the specific behaviors that student is engaging in. One incorrect step and you may accidentally reinforce problem behavior or forget to reinforce appropriate behavior. A good behavior plan flow chart gives staff a clear, easy-to-read path to follow across the day when it comes to that specific student. - Visuals of crisis response procedures
This might already be part of your amazing behavior plan flow chart, but if not, consider creating a visual that outlines what everyone needs to do at the onset of a behavior crisis. Who is responsible for which students? Who is the one responsible for intervening? How do staff know when to step in and what to say? Where do staff and students go if they need to clear the room? You may have already discussed this, but in times of crisis adrenaline kicks in and our minds don’t think as clearly as they usually do when we are calm. Having a visual of crisis procedures helps ensure everyone knows exactly what to do and can do it as calmly and swiftly as possible. - To-do lists
Ever have those times when you get to school and realize activities aren’t set up, schedules aren’t in place, and data hasn’t been entered? Most of us write to-do lists in some form whether it’s on our phone, on a sticky note or on the back of our hand. Creating morning and afternoon to-do lists for staff assists in ensuring all responsibilities and tasks are completed in a timely manner so that you can focus on other priorities. Instead of rushing to get all of those things done that could have been done at other designated times during the day, you could be spending on staff training and behavioral problem-solving. - Staff schedules
These are another absolute must and a god-send when, and if, you have a substitute. Outlining where each staff members is expected to be, at what time, and with which students helps create predictability and routine for our own team. Nobody likes to be unsure of their expectations and this helps with just that. When you are focused on student behavior, there isn’t time for staff members to continuously interrupt you and ask you questions that could easily be answered by a paper schedule. By creating staff schedules you will find you will have a lot less downtime, more student instruction going on, and a general smoother flow to the day as a whole.
