Behavior Tools™ training is an overview of behavior basics. Participants learn to define behavior, identify triggers of behavior, and examine the role that consequences play in strengthening or weakening behavior. Participants learn about coercive forms of communication and how to avoid them when interacting with their students. The Behavior Tools™ training also teaches six “tools” for addressing behavior that school personnel can add to their personal toolkits. The tools help participants strengthen relationships with their students, reinforce positive behaviors, and address negative behaviors in the most appropriate ways. The tools also help the participants communicate clearly defined expectations and consequences to their students.
The Education Service Cooperatives, along with the Arkansas Department of Education, are promoting Response to Intervention (RTI) across the state. One of the barriers to the implementation of RTI is the need for growth in classroom management skills. The Behavior Tools™ training is an overview of behavior strategies that can be used with individual students and with the whole group. Effective classroom management skills also decrease dependence on behavior specialists and other personnel trained in addressing behavioral concerns. As a result, the Behavior Tools™ training can assist districts with building local capacity in the area of behavior management.
The Behavior Tools™ training is open to all school personnel who interact with children exhibiting problem behaviors. Special education teachers, general education teachers, paraeducators, therapists, and counselors are among those who are most likely to benefit from this training. Administrators are also welcome, as they are in a position to implement the techniques (when appropriate) at the school-wide and even district-wide levels.
TESS Components: 1b, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3c, 3e