Exceptional Parent Magazine – December 2007

 

For this month’s selection we review three DVD/VHS training presentations for systematic supervision in school. The presentations are:

 

 

These presentations, developed by Iris Media, Inc., are a must for any school library and should be accessible to parents and school personnel. 

 

This systematic supervision is based on research that has identified what works well when supervising students in school common areas and playgrounds. The purpose behind systematic supervision is to decrease problem behavior, increase student cooperation and make school settings less stressful and more fun. Systematic supervision accomplishes these objectives by training supervisors monitor and interact effectively with students, respond appropriately to problem behaviors and foster respect, responsibility and safety at school. 

 

We know that parents who have kids with disabilities often worry about their own child’s challenging behavior and the risk to their child of the challenging behaviors of other students in the school setting. We, like so many similarly situated parents, find it frustrating when school districts can allocate scarce school training dollars toward physical management or intervention programs rather than purchasing programs that foster positive student and staff behavior in school settings.  We really like these presentations because they focus on how school personnel can help create and foster positive behavior support rather than operating a behavior system focused on reacting to negative behavior. 

 

The Iris Media, Inc. presentation developers describe the expected outcome from following the systematic supervision programs. They proclaim that “We want you, as a parent, to know what we are doing at school. We hope this will help you understand what we do, and why. We also hope it will encourage you to support our efforts at making our school a place where everyone is safe, respectful and responsible.” 

 

Parents should be included in school efforts to create atmospheres that are safe, respectful and responsible. The systematic supervision approach, according to the authors, “is based on research that shows that students respond well to being treated positively and respectfully. In fact, the same research shows that when adults pay a lot of attention to students’ negative behavior, negative behavior actually increases. At our school, we are using this positive approach to supervising students when they are in common areas like hallways and cafeterias. We are also using it when students are hanging out or are making transitions from one activity to another. In schools where systematic supervision is used consistently, teachers and students report that they

feel safe and respected at school and are motivated to behave responsibly.”

 

The presentations demonstrate how school personnel working with elementary school through high school students can make a difference by being active in their interactions, being positive in their relationships with students, responding appropriately to problem behavior and communicating regularly with other staff, students and parents. The DVDs/VHS tapes give direct information in an engaging format that is equally accessible to school personnel and parents. The presentation captions used throughout the programs flow in logical order and build on understanding and developing the interactive skills. The scenarios played out by the “teachers” and “students” in the programs dramatically illustrate the effective outcomes of right and wrong approaches to handling challenging behavior. 

 

These “Systematic Supervision” presentations are but one part of the Iris Media offering. The company also offers Internet access to helpful forms and resources that are instrumental in implementing effective systematic supervision programs. Interested parents and educators can visit the Website www.irisedonline.com to view examples of the systematic supervision presentation and other educational training materials. www.lookiris.com/resources provides educators and parents with helpful free downloadable resources.