B.I.S.T.
Behavior Intervention Support Team
A school-wide program to help students learn to manage their own behavior so they and their classmates may learn.
Goals for Students
- To be successful and learn
- To be trusted and respected
- To have friends
- To feel good about themselves
- To take care of themselves by making good decisions and staying out of trouble
What is B.I.S.T.?
Goodrich at Dawes Middle School has implemented a student management program known as BIST (Behavior Intervention Support Team). The purpose of this system is to help students manage their own behavior in a way that does not interfere with their own learning and the learning of others. Through BIST, we aim to bring about lasting changes in students’ attitudes toward themselves and others around them so that they can:
- Be productive students in the classroom
- Be in control of their own behavior
- Find acceptable solutions to their problems
B.I.S.T. Steps
The following steps may be taken to help students become accountable for their actions when they choose not to follow classroom rules and gain the skills they need to be successful.
1. Safe Seat
The safe seat is a designated area in the student’s regular classroom. It is intended to provide a safe place for students where inappropriate behavior can be prevented or stopped. The student can begin taking responsibility for their actions while continuing academic course work.
2. Buddy Room
The Buddy Room is a safe seat in a classroom other than the student’s assigned classroom where they may be assigned if the acting out does not stop in the original safe seat.
3. Recovery Room
The Recovery Room is a safe place for students who are having difficulty controlling their behavior to the extent that the regular classroom and/or Buddy Room is not the safest place for them.
4. Team Focus
A student can be assigned to a classroom for the entire day when the student has not processed with a teacher or when they are not responding to his/her plan.
5. Processing
This is the mandatory discussion the student and teacher have after the student behaves inappropriately. They discuss what happened, what harm it caused, identify the skill the student needs, make a plan to help the student, and continue to build the relationship between the student and teacher.
At Goodrich at Dawes Middle School….
It is never okay to be disruptive!
It is never okay to be hurtful!
Student and School Partnership
To Students:
For you to learn at grade level or above at school, you need to behave will. Behaving well means never being disruptive nor hurtful. We are asking you to work with us to help you learn to manage your own behavior effectively!
Goals for Life
1. I can be productive and follow directions even if I am mad. (have an overwhelming feelings)
2. I can be productive and follow directions even if other are not.
3. I can be productive and follow directions even if I don’t want to.
Think Sheet and Processing
When you have a problem at school, adults will ask you to identify and own the behavior, apologize, identify any ongoing problems that cause the behavior, accept the consequences, and to ask for help. The think sheet will help you do that in writing. Processing will be a discussion with the adult staff member where the inappropriate behavior occurred.
What does B.I.S.T. look like?
When a problem arises, the teacher in a caring, kind, manner will help the student identify the problem. A safe place in the classroom or another location will be provided until the student is able to “own the problem” and develop an acceptable plan. The plan may include an apology, a contract for improvement, a target behavior chart, or a number of other creative solutions. The student and teacher must process together to develop the plan. When the student has processed with the teacher, owned the behavior, and developed a plan, the student will return to the safest learning environment for that student. We encourage families to discuss the plan with the student and keep in touch with the teacher to discuss how the plan is working.
What does B.I.S.T. sound like?
“Can you do this even though you don’t want to?”
“How can you take care of yourself and not be in trouble?”
“I don’t want you to be in trouble. I just want to help you look at yourself so you can change?”
“It’s okay to have a problem, but it’s not okay to stay stuck in the problem.”
“How are you going to fix the problem?”
