Ci3T: Behavior Specific Praise USD 497, Lawrence Public Schools Kris Hase

1. Behavior Specific
Praise

2. Outcomes

3. USD 497 MTSS-CI3T Model of Support
Academic Behavioral Social
≈80%
≈15%
≈5%
Positive Behavioral
Interventions and Supports
(PBIS) Framework
Primary Support
(Tier 1)
Secondary Support
(Tier 2)
Tertiary Support
(Tier 3)
High
Low
Support
Intensity
Validated Curricula
ELA Math
CI3T – Comprehensive Integrated 3-
Tiered Model of Prevention (Lane,
Kalberg, & Menzies, 2009).
Validated Core Resource

4. Behavior
specific
praise
Behavior specific praise (BSP)
refers to sincere praise statements
that acknowledge the student and
reference the specific, desirable
behavior being recognized, praising
effort (not ability). BSP is most
effective when consistently
delivered immediately after
desired behavior has been
performed. Example: “Suzi,
great job showing your work on all
the division steps.” Non- example:
“Good job!”
One of more of the following:
Behavior:
 SRSS-E7: Moderate (4-8)
 SRSS-I5: Moderate (2-3)
 SRSS-E7: High (9-21)
 SRSS-I5: High (4-15)
 Ranking of 1, 2, or 3 on the Motivation
to Learn subscale of the SSiS-PSG
 Two or more office discipline referrals
(ODRs) within a grading period
AND/OR
Academic:
 Two of more missing assignments within
a grading period
 AIMSweb: intensive or strategic level
(math or reading)
 Progress report: Targeted for Growth
for academic learning behaviors
Student behavior
targeted for
improvement (e.g.,
academic engaged
time
% of intervals,
assignment
completion, ODRs).
Treatment integrity
 Implementation
checklist
 Treatment
integrity checklist
Social validity
 IRP-15 (teacher)
 Student-
completed survey
 0-1 ODRs in a
grading
period
and
 Zero missing
assignments
in a grading
period
and
 SRSS-E7:
low risk (0-
3)
 SRSS- I5:
low risk (0-
1)
or
 Ranking of 4
or 5 on the
Motivation to
Learn
subscale of
the SSiS-PSG
Support Description
School-wide Data:
Entry Criteria
Data to Monitor
Progress
Exit Criteria

5. Review Behavior Specific Praise
•Think about a time
someone gave you BSP.
How did it make you
feel?

6. What is Behavior Specific Praise?
• Behavior Specific Praise (BSP): Praise statements that include reference to the
specific behavior for which the student is being recognized (Brophy, 1981;
Sutherland, Wehby, & Copeland, 2000)
• Key Components
• Praise statement must be linked to a behavior
• Provide feedback specific to the behavior
• Be sincere
• Reflect skill level
• Evaluate effectiveness
• Praise effort – not ability
(Haydon, Musti-Rao, 2011, p. 31)
General v. Specific

7. What are the benefits and challenges?
Benefits
• Takes little effort and costs nothing
• Improves student- teacher
relationships
• Not time consuming or intrusive
• Increases on-task behavior and
reduces problem behavior
• Increases positive social and
academic behaviors
(Lampi, Fenty, & Beaunae, 2005; Marchant &
Anderson, 2012; Stormont & Reinke, 2009)
Challenges
• Determine students’ preferred method of
praise – public or private
• Consider the needs of students who are
more motivated by escaping tasks or
activities rather than accessing teacher
attention

8. Is it Behavior Specific Praise?
Thank you for raising your hand.
•Behavior Specific Praise
Several students are talking during direct instruction.
The instructor looks at a group of students that are
listening and says; “Thanks.”
•Not Behavior Specific Praise – no reference to
specific behavior

9. “Emily, Thanks for arriving to school on time for once.”
• Sarcasm – NOT Behavior Specific Praise
“Class, this is wonderful! This is the first time you’ve
earned all your points.
• Backhanded praise – NOT Behavior Specific Praise
“Taylor, I see excellent grammar, indentation and
punctuation. Don’t stop now, continue throughout the
whole paper.”
• Controlling Praise – NOT Behavior Specific Praise

10. A student enters class during instruction and quietly
takes their seat. During a short pause the teacher
whispers to the student; “I appreciate you coming in
quietly.”
•Behavior Specific Praise
“Chris, 100% -- the only one in the whole class. Well
done.”
•Perfection Praise – NOT Behavior Specific Praise

11. Where to find supports
CI3T.org
PBIS.org

12. What is your next step in using
Behavior Specific Praise ?