Positive Behavior Intervention and Support
PBIS Coach
K.A.R.M.A.
The purpose of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) is to foster and promote a safe school environment that enhances student learning through teaching and recognizing positive behavior. In order to do so, the school uses the language of K.A.R.M.A. to promote a safe, predictable and enjoyable environment for all students and staff, through a common culture, vision and language.
The acronym K.A.R.M.A. stands for:
Kind
Appropriate
Respectful
Mature
Accountable
Students are taught the expectations of each of these words and what they look like around the school building. For example, in the classroom Kindness looks like helping others, sharing with others and being considerate.
The idea around PBIS is that students need to be taught the behavioral expectations explicitly. Once they are taught the expectations, they are able to apply them to their behavior choices.
Students earn behavior levels each week. The levels are based on how many behavior points they earn each period of the day. Students can earn a maximum of 130 points per day, 15 points per period plus 5 points for arrival and 5 points for dismissal. When students earn at least 545 points per week, they choose to earn a club period on Friday afternoons. If they don’t earn levels, they stay in their classroom during that period and review what they need to do in order to earn levels the following week.
