There are many resources that we want to share with our educational team, even those veterans! Best practices and research within education are abundant. During our first few days together, we talk about the following information while organizing and setting up the classroom. We are able to hold conversations and ask questions while we’re working. There are times when we sit down at a table (even a small table) and talk, but the beginning of the year allows time for multitasking! Occasionally the conversations are so good that they accidentally spill over into lunch times. In this post, I will share the information our team discusses based around learner’s behavior. 

When we organize and clean out our classrooms, we always find items that are typically reinforcing, as well as games and toys that may be missing pieces in which we can use as reinforcing items. A reinforcer is only a reinforcer if it increases the likelihood of a behavior to happen again. These items within my classroom are not typically available for “free” at all times of the day. They are not withheld, however, if they aren’t free toys to engage with during free choice times, then they are more likely to actually be reinforcing. While discussing and reminding ourselves what a reinforcer is by definition, we gather items that students typically gravitate towards and set up our areas for preference assessments. 

For times when it is best that we sit down is when we’re discussing behavior plans, IEP goals, and supports and strategies we have in place to support everyone in our classroom. The behavior plans individually review the definition of the maladaptive behavior(s), the function of the behavior that was collected through the functional behavioral assessment, and the replacement behaviors that will be targeted. Through this information, the team will find any visual, sensory, or other supports that are needed to teach a learner and to increase their success and independence in the target behavior. 

The following resources are helpful for both the educational team and our learners. These are my favorite to discuss and review often with my team!

• Behavior Contingency Maps
• Behavior Task Cards
• Behavior Plan Flow Charts and Tools
• Ultimate Packet of Behavior Management Tools
• Ultimate Packet of Behavior Management Tools Set 2
• Positive Behavior Change Workbooks
• Behavior File Folder Activities
• Behavior Change Course + Toolkit Bundle
• Behavior Crisis Visual Cards
• The Practical Behavior Approach Toolkit
• Behavior Social Story Adapted Book Series

I have been fortunate enough to have been in the classroom for more than 13 years. This has given me ample time to purchase and prep materials and resources from The Autism Helper. The resources that are implemented in our classroom give consistency to both staff and students. The visuals and supports are carried over with our learners, and the training we receive through The Autism Helper courses increase the positivity during professional development days. The courses and videos from The Autism Helper are like having professional development that we can carry over into our teaching,