–by Dr. Timothy (Tim) Grivois, Executive Director
Step one of PBIS is to establish a PBIS matrix. Sometimes, schools establish values for their PBIS matrix without considering what is essential to be a successful learner and a good human being. Instead, I’ve seen teams select values just because they fit an acronym that matches their school mascot. I love a branded PBIS matrix. My favorites have school colors, logos, and mascots all over them! Not my favorite—acronyms. Here are two reasons to avoid acronyms when creating a PBIS Matrix:
1. Acronyms can lead to a weird PBIS matrix.
When schools fit values to acronyms, the word they want to create becomes more important than the values they’d like to see lived out loud. I would never recommend centralizing an expectation simply because the school needed a vowel for some word they like. Instead, start your brainstorming by asking, “What values are essential to be a successful learner and a good human being?” Then, you can create word families of similar kinds of values. This makes selecting 3-5 over-arching expectations much simpler.
It’s possible that you end up with 3-5 words that fit an acronym, and if you do, that’s great! However, what matters more is that you create a list that matches what you want to see your school community live out loud.
2. You don’t need an acronym anyway.
We use acronyms to remember information that would be hard to remember. When schools implement PBIS, the values are everywhere: posters, matrices, and PBIS tickets, for example. You’ll hear values every day as staff recognize positive behavior and also when they correct unexpected behavior. Twice a year (at least), your entire school will learn to live your values out loud in every setting area. PBIS schools teach, reinforce, and assess their values constantly.
Give your students some credit. Students memorize 26 alphabet letters in the littlest grades—they can learn a list of 3-5 words.
What if you already have an acronym…?
Sometimes, PBIS teams inherit a matrix with an acronym. If the values work, it may be easier to leave it alone. However, I recommend schools look at their matrix every 5-7 years. Students, staff, families, and leadership can change tremendously in that time. Values may have shifted, too.
When your team is ready to take a second look at your existing matrix, focus on values necessary for learning and participating in the community effectively. Email me if you’d like to discuss this process more!
Or, check out this resource from the Center on PBIS on how to create a matrix: Click here.
As always, find a beautiful way to live your values out loud today!
“Give your students some credit. Students memorize 26 alphabet letters in the littlest grades—they can learn a list of 3-5 words.” Sometimes I think the biggest disservice we do as educators is assuming students can’t do things.