That’s the first step of many for your school once you’ve decided that the culture has to improve and you are going to do something about it. In this case, that something will likely be focused on positive reinforcement. 

Once you’ve decided that positive reinforcement is the what, it’s time to zero in on the how. You can ask your staff to reinforce positive behaviors verbally. That is effective, but how much so? Is that positive verbal reinforcement tied to anything tangible? What about negative behaviors?

Those are just a couple of the questions that are inevitably going to lead you to investigate the validity and efficacy of behavior points tracking, or PBIS points. Let’s take a look at points and what you need to consider before implementing them on your campus.

What is Behavior Points Tracking?

Behavior points tracking is a systematic approach used in schools to monitor and influence student behavior. In this system, students earn points for demonstrating positive behaviors such as meeting expectations, showing respect, and completing assignments. 

Conversely, points may be deducted for negative behaviors like disrupting class or breaking school rules. These points are tracked over time, providing a clear record of each student’s behavior. 

This method not only helps teachers and administrators identify patterns and address issues early on but also encourages students to consistently exhibit positive behaviors. 

The Benefits of Behavior Points Tracking

Implementing a behavior points tracking system offers numerous advantages for schools aiming to improve their culture and student behavior. Here are three key benefits:

Promotes Positive Behavior: By rewarding positive actions, students are motivated to consistently display good behavior. This leads to a more respectful and productive school environment.

‍Improves Communication: Behavior points tracking provides clear and consistent communication between teachers, students, and parents about student behavior. This transparency helps address issues promptly and effectively.

Data-Driven Insights: All of these points can do double duty as actionable data if you can capture it efficiently. Utilizing digital tracking services like LiveSchool enables schools to collect and analyze behavior data. 

This helps identify trends, measure the effectiveness of interventions, and make informed decisions to enhance the school culture.

All of that assumes efficacy of the program and consistency of use - two things that are easier said than done unless you have a plan in place to make it easy to use for your staff. 

Incorporating a digital system like LiveSchool simplifies the tracking process, making it easier to manage and more effective in promoting positive behaviors.

Considerations Before Implementing Behavior Points Tracking

So you’ve decided to focus on positive reinforcement, you’re using points as your method of reinforcement, and you’ll be using LiveSchool as your means of implementation. What else do you need to consider before it’s time to roll your plan out to staff and students? 

I’m glad you asked!

1. What types of behaviors do you want to track?

This seems straightforward but it does require some planning to get right. Ideally, you are tracking the behaviors that you have promoted to your school as the ones that are necessary for success. 

Those behaviors will need to be defined, explicitly. That means you’re going to need a behavior rubric. Don’t know where to start? LiveSchool has you covered with a searchable database of behavior rubric examples from schools just like yours.

2. Do you want to track negative behavior?

This is a culture question. The idea with positive reinforcement is that you’ll get more of the behaviors you recognize. 

So point out the good stuff! 

That being said, if you only track positives you’ll be missing out on a ton of useful data points that you can use to target and improve negative behaviors. There isn’t a right or wrong here, but it will be a choice you need to make and your goals with the system are key to making it.

3. Should negative behavior deduct points from student’s bank accounts?

Once again a culture question. Do you want points to rise and fall with behavior - or only rise? Do you feel that your consequences are sufficient for handling negative behavior without penalizing students by subtracting points as well? 

Or do you feel that the points deduction is a natural consequence and a teachable moment? 

4. How do you want to motivate students?

The classic question of tangible vs intangible rewards. Can you reliably provide tangible rewards and do you want to do so? School reward stores are very effective but they require planning and resources to run effectively. 

If you don’t feel that you can or don’t feel that you should provide tangible rewards, LiveSchool has a ton of intangible reward ideas in their Rewards that Rock database.

5. How many points should teachers give per day/week?

Your staff is on board. They are in the boat and rowing in your direction. Now how many points do you actually need them to distribute? This is a question we often see overlooked as most generally see this as the more the merrier.

But unless you have guidelines on point expectations, the system will be viewed and used according to the eye of the beholder. That means you’ll have some teachers awarding thousands of points a week and some awarding tens of points per week.

Consistency is important for the health of the system and will keep things fair for students so set the guidelines and expectations around usage.

6. How do you want to organize your behavior rubric?

We already addressed the need for a rubric, but this is our suggestion that you take a moment to consider how you organize that rubric. The organization of the rubric will dictate how you teach and communicate the expectations - as well as what data your points will collect.

For example, if you organize your rubric by location like the cafe, classroom, or library then your data will tell you how well your students behave (or don’t) in those locations.

Your Next Step With Behavior Points Tracking

I’ll leave you with one last thought to consider as you plan your implementation. 

How are you going to get your staff bought in?

The greatest plan on paper won’t mean much unless your staff believes in it and can execute in consistently and efficiently. Take some time to consider ways you can give your staff a voice in the process and how you can support them throughout the year.

You might also want to consider some teacher rewards to positively reinforce your staff!