The Behavior Code Companion

Jessica Minahan is a board-certified behavior analyst and special educator who serves as the director of behavioral services at the Neuropsychology & Education Services for Children & Adolescents group practice in Newton, Masssachusetts, USA and as a consultant to clients nationwide. She is coauthor of The Behavior Code: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students.

CONTENTS

Introduction 1

CHAPTER 1
Cracking the Code 7
Embracing a New Perspective on Behavior

REFLECT: How Do You Think About Behavior? 10
REFLECT: Examining Your Assumptions 12
CASE STUDY: Julian, a Student with Anxiety 13
CASE STUDY: Malik, a Student with Anxiety 15
PRACTICE: Reframing Our Understanding of Behavior 17

CHAPTER 2
The FAIR Behavior Intervention Plan 19
Practicing the Fundamentals

PRACTICE: Functional Communication 23
PRACTICE: Replacement Behavior 24
PRACTICE: Writing Target Behaviors 28
PRACTICE: Analyzing Stan's ABC Notes 31
PRACTICE: Analyzing Juanita's ABC Notes 33
PRACTICE: Analyzing Raul's ABC Notes 35
PRACTICE: Analyzing ABC Notes for Your Students 37
PRACTICE: Structured ABC Data Sheet 38

CHAPTER 3
Key Interventions for Successfully Supporting Students 41

REFLECT: Supporting Student Work Initiation 47
REFLECT: Transitions and Your Students 49
CASESTUDY: Xavier, a Fourth-Grade Student 53
CASESTUDY: Trevor, a First-Grade Student 54
PRACTICE: Making a Transition Support Plan 55
REFLECT: Evaluating Breaks in Your Classroom 59
PRACTICE: Brainstorming Breaks 62
PRACTICE: Evaluating Break Data 64
REFLECT: Finding Islands of Competence 68
PRACTICE: Planning Islands of Competence 71
PRACTICE: Brainstorming Barriers to Alternative Lunches 71

CHAPTER 4
"Get Away From Me!" 73
Strategies and Interventions for Students with Anxiety-Related Behaviors

CASE STUDY: Analyzing Harry’s Behavior Plan 78
CASESTUDY: Analyzing Chandra’s Behavior Plan 80
REFLECT: Analyzing Your Student's Behavior Plan 82
PRACTICE: Creating a Writing Checklist 87
PRACTICE: Creating a "How I Feel About Writing" Sheet 88
REFLECT: Prioritizing Skills and Strategies 91
PRACTICE: Creating a Visual Self-Regulation Sheet 99
REFLECT: Planning a Check-In 104
REFLECT: Creating Check-In and Check-Out Sheets 106
CASESTUDIES: Catching It Early with Sophia and Sam 109
CASE STUDY: Prioritizing Strategies for Omar 113
CASESTUDY: Prioritizing Strategies for Stacey 113

CHAPTER 6
Creating FAIR Behavior Intervention Plans 147

CASE STUDY: Aton, Grade 3 151
CASE STUDY: Devan, Grade 6 154
CASE STUDY: Angela, Grade K 157

CHAPTER 7
Tools for Monitoring Progress and Implementation 161

REFLECT: Creating Data Sheets for Your Student 165
PRACTICE: Making an Implementation Checklist 177
PRACTICE: Putting It All Together 178

APPENDIX A
Individualized Education Program Goals and Objectives 183

APPENDIX B
Protocols: Safety, Bolting, Threat, and Self-Harm 187

APPENDIX C
Helpful Apps 207

APPENDIX D
FAIR Behavior Intervention Plan Template 217

APPENDIX E
Updated FAIR Behavior Intervention Plan for Students with Anxiety-Related Behavior 221

APPENDIX F
Updated FAIR Behavior Intervention Plan for Students with Oppositional Behavior 227

APPENDIX G
Answer Key 235

Notes 255
Acknowledgments 259
About the Author 261
Index 263