A person who is considering becoming an educator or a professional who works in schools may wonder, “What are intervention supports in schools?” Intervention supports are actions taken in order to curb a negative behavior and encourage a positive behavior. Knowing what intervention supports are could help an educator or professional help students academically and developmentally.
Teaching Kids About Behavior
Intervention supports begin with teaching kids about behavior expectations in the school environment. If the expectations will be in place for field trips, sports that take place off of school grounds and school-related activities such as family nights at a roller skating rink, those expectations should be clearly stated by the school. Intervention supports demand that schools teach students about appropriate behavior to the same extent that they teach kids reading and mathematics skills. From boarding the bus to arriving at school, going to lunch and dismissal, students should know exactly what the behavioral expectations are.
Guiding Principles of Intervention Supports
There are several guiding principles to intervention supports in schools. The first is that every child can learn what is appropriate behavior at school. The principles also include the concept that early interventions could reduce the severity of problem behaviors. Additional principles of intervention supports in schools include understanding that each child is different and may need different supports. The school must follow a student’s progress through the different tiers of intervention supports. This might be done by the counselor with the assistance of the teacher and administrators. Schools should use evidence-based intervention supports and gather data in order to make decisions about students with poor behavior, including after a tier three intervention has been set up for the student.
Providing Teachers With a Framework
Intervention supports are a framework for teachers and administrators. The guidelines are applied on a universal basis, regardless of whether the child has an IEP or a 504 plan. Evidence shows that in schools where an intervention support framework is followed, there is less bullying, truancy and suspension or expulsion. The intervention supports are not meant to be a treatment or therapy for problematic behavior in an individual student. It differs from traditional interventions that focus on an immediate punishment for problem behaviors.
Tiers of Intervention Supports
According to Understood, there are three levels or tiers of intervention supports in schools. Tier one refers to universal behavior expectations that apply to all of the kids in the school. Schools might issue small rewards, such as pencils or a class pizza party for consistently positive behavior. Tier two is extra support for kids who struggle with behavior, such as yelling out answers before they are called upon. The intervention might be reminders or a social skills club. Tier three is individualized support for kids who have consistently problematic behavior at school.
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When a child has behavioral problems, intervention supports in schools may help with decreasing or stopping the issue and encouraging a more positive action. Educators and professionals working within the school system can benefit from learning more about this. Families should also become familiar with the answer to the question of, “What are intervention supports in schools?” so that they can work as a team with the teachers, administrators and staff where their child attends school.
