Behavioral support teachers, in particular, have reported that their main issue with students is behavioral issues that deter the student from their optimal learning. According to the Association for Behavioral Analysis International, behavior has many influences for children and adults alike; they include culture, family traditions and norms, and peer pressure to name a few.
Here are five great books to consider for behavioral support teachers:
1. Positive Behavior Support at the Tertiary Level: Red Zone Strategies
Summary: The purpose of this book is to discuss what is called the tier two behavioral issues particularly in a smaller group of students. It discusses with teachers in particular how to assess which students will best react to these positive strategies as opposed to practicing reactive responses to their behavior. These include proximity control and peer mentoring.
Reviews: It is easy to read and full of examples as well as places to find resources for implementing the suggested strategies. Both seasoned and new behavioral support teachers will find it helpful.
2. Positive Behavior Supports in Classrooms and Schools: Effective and Practical Strategies for Teachers and Other Service Providers
Summary: This book aims to give behavioral support teachers the means by which to implement positive behavioral strategies in a school environment across all levels of K-12 learning. It includes case studies as well as how to analyze the classroom setting itself, measuring behavior and preventative strategies.
Reviews: It is written specifically for teachers in mind. It is not laden with technical jargon; instead, it gives very real case study examples that a teacher can learn from and then easily implement what was discussed.
3. Behavior Management: Positive Applications for Teachers
Summary: Gives strategies that can be implemented with individual students and will work well as a school-wide implementation as well. The processes discussed include how to measure, assess, and then strategize behavior in both regular and special education classrooms. All of the information is research-based.
Review: The author, Thomas Zirpoli, is recognized in the behavioral studies area as someone to follow when it comes to standard practices for behavioral support teachers. The information is very well organized and can include a supplemental eBook with additional strategies.
4. Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers
Summary: The focus of this book is in the principles and practices of applied behavior analysis in a classroom setting. The presentation of the information is non-technical and very clear for anyone who is a beginning teacher in behavioral support. All the examples that are given are based on research that was done in classroom environments. The main purpose is to present information that will help a teacher to practice decision-making in terms of how to approach a situation with a student who is manifesting inappropriate classroom behavior.
Review: This book works well in being implemented on a school-wide basis as an in-service workshop or for any other wide-ranging use in one school or an entire school district. It is information that can not only be useful to behavioral support teachers but to any other field that commonly deals with behavioral issues of students or adults alike. The information is straightforward and not too technical that a novice would not benefit from it and unique enough to be a great refresher from someone already teaching.
5. Behavioral Support (Teachers Guides to Inclusive Practices)
Summary: This book not only helps behavioral support teachers to implement better strategies for addressing negative student behavior, but it also presents ways in which instructors can teach their students to practice better behavioral skills in varying ways through how they communicate, in challenging social situations, and discovering what may be happening within themselves that is making them act inappropriately.
Reviews: This book can be implemented with adults as well as all age levels of students with some modifications to the strategies to suit the environment. It focuses on prevention as opposed to how to deal with behavior after it has occurred. It is also a great introductory book for new teachers without too much technical information to sift through.
Related Resource: 5 Great Books for Autistic Support Teachers
These are five great books for behavioral support teachers to choose from that will give new teachers an important foundation for building their classroom management skills as well as ideas for veteran teachers who may find that their old tried and true strategies need some fine-tuning.
