Rubber Band Intervention
The
purpose of this strategy is to keep track of student behaviors using rubber
bands placed around the teacher’s wrist.
Define
a set of classroom behavioral expectations and review them with the student or
class. Develop a reward menu for
the individual or class selected for this intervention.
Decide how many points are required to ‘buy’ specific rewards.
Introduce the monitoring intervention.
Rubber bands, a monitoring chart, and rewards are needed for this
strategy.
Step
1: Put
up to six rubber bands around one wrist at the start of each half-hour
(activity, task, etc.). Each time
that you must prompt (redirect) the student concerning the inappropriate
behavior, transfer a rubber band from one wrist to the other.
Step
2:
At the end of each half-hour (activity, task, etc.), count the number of
rubber bands remaining on the original wrist.
The student receives a point for each rubber band.
Step
3: Briefly review the student’s
behavioral performance at the end of each half-hour (activity, task, etc.), and
add the # of points earned to the monitoring chart which could be taped to the
students desk or in view of the student.
Step
4:
When the student has earned a sufficient number of points, allow him/her
to redeem points for a reward.
Step
5:
As the student’s classroom behaviors improve, gradually reduce the
number of rubber bands that you place on your wrist at the start of each
monitoring period or increase expectations.
Modification
This could also be used for an entire class. The teacher could place the monitoring chart at the front of the room. Rewards could be extra recess time, free time, etc.
E.T.S.U. Make a Difference Project 2002-2003