Functional behavior assessment
Functional behavior assessment is a
way to problem solve and to provide a student with behavior problems different coping strategies. CECP states that the
focus of a FBA is to see if you can identify, "pupil-specific social,
affective, cognitive, and/or environmental factors associated with the
occurrence (and non-occurrence) of specific behaviors" (CECP, 2001).
Figuring out why the student behaves a certain way will help you to change the
undesirable behavior. Teachers can do this by finding what triggers the
behavior and by noticing a behavior pattern (CECP, 2001).
When you are collecting data you should consider the following areas:
1) Is there a specific person(s) the behavior occurs more often with?
When collecting the data teachers need to be as specific as possible. Teachers need to document how serious the behavior is by looking at the duration, intensity, and how frequently it occurs. The teacher should also define the behavior. This will allow other teachers to collect data on the student. Lastly, the data needs to be measurable. This can be done through observation logs, behavioral recording charts, or video and audio tapes (Arsenault, 2013).
When you are collecting data you should consider the following areas:
1) Is there a specific person(s) the behavior occurs more often with?
- This could include adults or peers. When they are in whole groups, small groups, or when they are by themselves.
- Check to see if the behavior occurs in the morning, at lunch, recess, or in the afternoon.
- This could be core subjects (math, science, English, or social studies), specials (art, music, or P.E.), lunch, recess, or computer time.
- This could be in the classroom, hallway, lunchroom, playground, or on the bus.
When collecting the data teachers need to be as specific as possible. Teachers need to document how serious the behavior is by looking at the duration, intensity, and how frequently it occurs. The teacher should also define the behavior. This will allow other teachers to collect data on the student. Lastly, the data needs to be measurable. This can be done through observation logs, behavioral recording charts, or video and audio tapes (Arsenault, 2013).
Behavior plans
Behavior plans use positive
techniques to decrease undesirable behaviors and increase desirable behaviors.
It is necessary to create a behavior plan when a student’s behavior is
affecting their ability to learn or if their behavior is putting him/herself or others at
risk. Once the teacher has conducted a functional behavior assessment the next
step is to create a behavior plan for the student(s). There are six steps to go
through before you can create a behavior plan. They are as followed: (Arsenault, 2013).
- Identify the target behavior: Teachers cannot fix everything at once. It is important that teacher’s pick a behavior to change that will help the student be successful in many settings.
- Identify the replacement behavior: Teachers need to pick what appropriate behavior they will replace the undesirable behavior with.
- Identify the ways you will teach the desired behavior: Teachers can explain and demonstrate how to appropriately behave or they can have the student work with the school counselor or social worker. It is crucial that when the teacher is teaching the desired behavior that he/she is consistent with the student.
- Identify the skills that need to be taught to replace the undesired behavior: Teachers should sit down with the student and discuss the behavior intervention plan. Together they should come up with a list of what triggers the student’s undesirable behavior. This way the student can identify what causes them to behave this way. Teachers should also teach coping strategies that the student can use when necessary.
- Identify the preventative strategies you can use to reduce the likelihood of the behavior occurring: Teachers can make a list of triggers that cause the student to have undesirable behaviors. It is vital to look at the instructional content, classroom schedule, classroom arrangement, and peer interactions to see what could be changed/modified to help the student.
- Identify the types of reinforcement you will use to encourage/reinforce the new behavior: Positive statements and realistic goals can reinforce the new behavior.
- Plan to follow the behavior intervention plan when the student demonstrates the undesirable behavior. In addition, have steps that you will follow in case of a crisis.
- Collect data: Teachers need to keep track of how the student is doing and what reinforcers are working the best. Keeping track of the data will help teachers if the behavior plan ever needs to be modified.
Links
references
Information from:
Functional Behavioral Assessment. (2001). In Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice. Retrieved February 24, 2013, from http://cecp.air.org/fba/default.asp
Arsenault, Kim (2013). Functional Behavior Assessments [PowerPointSlides]. Retrieved from Hope College
Arsenault, Kim (3013). Behavior Intervention Plan [PowerPointSlides]. Retrieved from Hope College
Picture from:
Functional Behavioral Assessment. (n.d.). In Applied Behvioral Strategies. Retrieved February 24, 2013, from
http://appliedbehavioralstrategies.wordpress.com/tag/functional-behavioral-assessment/
Video from:
Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) Instructions. (2011, April 15). In YouTube. Retrieved February 24, 2013,
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0R_9zmOyG68
Functional Behavioral Assessment. (2001). In Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice. Retrieved February 24, 2013, from http://cecp.air.org/fba/default.asp
Arsenault, Kim (2013). Functional Behavior Assessments [PowerPointSlides]. Retrieved from Hope College
Arsenault, Kim (3013). Behavior Intervention Plan [PowerPointSlides]. Retrieved from Hope College
Picture from:
Functional Behavioral Assessment. (n.d.). In Applied Behvioral Strategies. Retrieved February 24, 2013, from
http://appliedbehavioralstrategies.wordpress.com/tag/functional-behavioral-assessment/
Video from:
Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) Instructions. (2011, April 15). In YouTube. Retrieved February 24, 2013,
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0R_9zmOyG68