Our school uses Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) – a whole-school approach for creating a positive, safe and supportive school climate where students can learn and develop. Our school community works together to establish expected behaviours and teach them to all students.
What is PBL?
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is an educational process that brings together the whole-school community to contribute to developing a positive, safe and supportive learning culture. The PBL framework assists schools to improve social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes for children and young people. When PBL is implemented well, teachers and students have more time to focus on relationships and classroom instruction.
What does PBL look like at Marrickville Public School?
Defining Expected Behaviour
MPS has identified three positive school-wide expectations that everyone – students, teachers, staff and parents – are asked to follow in all settings. Our school-wide expectations are:
Be Safe
Be Respectful
Be a Learner
Teaching Expected Behaviours
It is crucial that expected behaviour is taught as rigorously as we teach academics through explicit instruction, practice, feedback and reteaching to increase the likelihood that students will follow the expectations. The school-wide expectations are explicitly taught. PBL lessons occur weekly on Monday afternoons, in all classrooms, and focus on the targeted positive behaviour expectation for that week.
A snapshot of the weekly school focus is also shared with parents and the community through MPS Matters Newsletter.
Encouraging Expected Behaviour
A school-wide acknowledgement system ensures all staff, students and parents/carers are aware of how student achievement will be acknowledged. It is important to note that not all students are encouraged by the same thing or in the same way.
‘Caught Being Goods’ are tokens known as ‘Waddles’ which are used school-wide by all staff to deliver specific positive feedback to all students. Waddles are collected in classes. Students can work towards Individual and whole class rewards.
Class Reward Systems reflect the school-wide expectations within the context of the class and stage. Class Dojo is an online-based reward system where individual students are assigned an avatar and given points for positive actions demonstrated by behaviour and academic performance.
Merit Awards weekly presentation of awards at a whole school assembly acknowledges positive behaviour and academic achievement. All teaching staff present two student awards for their class or support program at the fortnightly assembly each Tuesday afternoon. Names of students receiving awards are published in MPS Matters, the week prior to the assembly to further acknowledge this success with the school community.