If you’ve been reading my blog or following my social media accounts for any length of time, you know that behavior plans are my jam! There is really nothing that is more powerful than a well done Functional Behavior Assessment/Analysis that transforms into a meaningful Behavior Intervention Plan! Giving our kiddos personalized plans to help shape their behavior IS EVERYTHING! They can REALLY help create positive experiences for our students to succeed individually, but what happens when your class is falling apart as a whole group?! Enter… whole group contingencies!
I LOVE using these behavior contingencies SO much that I literally always, always, always have something brewing! Once one contingency is met, we start a new one right up!
There are SO many ways to try this out! How to start?
1.) Brainstorm
Student buy-in is huge! Have the class brainstorm a list of whole group rewards that they would like to earn. Popcorn party? Extra recess? Cooking activity? iPad time? Figure out a list of what the students request and work from there. This is not only easier than you coming up with ideas on the fly, but it WILL allow for more buy-in, you know exactly what they’re motivated by!
2.) Behavior Targets
Maybe the kids know they’re working for a pizza party, what do they need to exhibit to earn it? Tips: make it insanely clear and simple, working on ONE behavior at a time, and keep it positive. Want to clean up language? Behavior target should be “using expected words”, not “no cursing”. Keeps it positive and strengths based, showing students what they SHOULD be showing.
3.) Execution
There are so many ways to execute a whole group contingency. You can do it based on a time frame, or just “until you earn it”, it can be done with spelling the word their earning, or filling a container. Here are a few that I’ve done!
This is for extra buy-in – a mystery! They were able to uncover a letter of the mystery surprise every time that they were all participating in a lesson.
The class got a pom-pom every time that they showed the expected target behavior, working to fill it up to the top line.
Have you done whole group contingencies with your class? Right now, my kids are working towards a slime making party!
Love,
Allie