NOW WHAT?
EXPLORING WHAT A BEHAVIORAL
INCIDENT REPORT AND OTHER
DATA SOURCES HAVE TO OFFER
Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21
Positive Behavior Support Grant
2009-2011
WHO ARE WE?



Suzanne Mulhern – Lehigh Carbon Community
College, Adjunct Faculty and Internal Coach
LeAnne Lorenzo – Carbon Lehigh Intermediate
Unit 21, Early Childhood Consultant for
Preschool Inclusion and External Coach
Group
AGENDA

Why do we need data?

Data Sources

Define the BIR

Explore the BIR

What does this data look like for you - activity
OJECTIVES
Participants will



Investigate the various data sources available for
use
Determine how the BIR functions as a tool for
staff to guide decisions on challenging behavior
Explore the function of the BIR as a Team
CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR
What do you see?
CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR
Biting
Hitting
Spitting
What is the child telling us?
CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR
Do
we know?
We
can guess?
How
do we discover the true
meaning of the child’s
behavior?
CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR
Observe
and take anecdotal
notes
Video
tape
Tally
sheet
BIR
BECOMING A DETECTIVE
We know behavior:
 is communication
 serves
 is
a purpose
a child’s best guess at
problem solving
BECOMING A DETECTIVE
In simple terms…
 To
get something
 To
escape something
 To
change a “state”
BECOMING A DETECTIVE
Observe
and take anecdotal
notes
Video
tape
Tally
sheet
BIR
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
BIR as a tool
EFFICIENT
&
EFFECTIVE
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
Hope Church Nursery School - Behavior Incident Report - BIR
Child’s First Name: ______________________
Reporting Teacher: ____________________
Date: ____________________________
Time of Occurrence: ___________________
Behavior Description:
Problem Behavior – check most intrusive:

Aggression

Self injury

Self Stimulatory Behavior

Disruption/Tantrum

Inappropriate Language
Location of Incident – check one:





Non-compliance
Teasing
Biting
Running away
Property damage



Unsafe behaviors
Kicking, hitting, punching
Other

Regular classroom

Playground

Music Room
Activity – check one:



Hallway
Bathroom
Other Classroom


Lunch Room
Other

Arrival

Classroom jobs

Large group activity

Small group activity

Center

Learning Circle
Others Involved: Check all that apply:






Snack Time
Library Time
Outdoor Play
Special activity
Self-care
FAO Hope





Lunch Bunch
Departure
Transition
Individual Activity
Other

Teacher

Assistant Teacher

Therapist

Family Member
Possible motivation – Check one:

Director/Assistant
Director
Substitute
Peers


None
Other

Obtain desired item



Gain adult attention

Avoid adults
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
February at
Hope Nursery School
EXPLORING THE BIR
Total # of BIRS Submitted Each Month
September
10
October
8
November
8
December
16
January
13
DISCOVERY??
DECEMBER



JANUARY
Total # of BIRs: 16

One teacher submitted
thirteen BIRs.

Explore BIRs with the
Core Leadership team;
“What are the BIRs
telling us?”
Total # of BIRs: 13
Increase to eight
teachers submitting
BIRs.
 The “a-ha” moment!
Using BIRs can help
explore challenging
behavior in different
ways.
ANALYZING JANUARY’S BIRS DATA
January Behavior Incident Reports
Teacher/
Class
NP
MPJ
IK
RN
JG
MB
LB
RL
SM
# of BIRs
2
1
2
1
3
1
1
1
1
Same
Child
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Same
Location
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Same
Activity
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
BRAIN STORMING
 Increase
of teachers submitting BIRs
allowed team to look at what data the BIR
had to offer in a different perspective.
 Explore
the following attributes:
teacher(s), child(ren), location, activity.
 Address
the attitude of staff, “If I submit a
BIR, I may not be doing my job.”
INCENTIVE IDEA!!
ANALYZING FEBRUARY’S BIRS DATA
February Behavior Incident Reports
Teacher
Class
NP
MPJ
IK
RN
JG
MB
LB
RL
AK
# of BIRs
2
2
5
9
3
7
0
1
7
Same
Child/ren
No
Yes
Yes
1
Yes
2
Yes
Yes
1
0
No
Yes
2
Same
Location
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
0
No
Yes
Same
Activity
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
0
No
Yes
POSSIBLE CONCLUSIONS

Teachers and staff need to feel safe to have the ability
to submit BIRs.

Exploring hypotheses with the Core Leadership Team
can allow for an objective perspective.

Discussing the hypothesis with staff should be done
with active listening. Remember that all behavior is
serving a purpose.

Remember to explore reasons and ask, “Why are the
BIRs decreasing?”

Look at the BIR as a snapshot of the possibilities for
challenging behavior.
REMEMBER!!

Behavior serves a purpose…..

Become the detective and investigate:
Is the behavior to obtain attention?
Is the behavior to escape the activity?
Does the behavior help to support a change
in stimulation?
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
Your Turn
Use the blank BIRs during
this activity to record what
you see.
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
Video
Justin on the Playground
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
Video
Justin at nap time
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
Video
Justin on the Playground 2
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
BIR Reflection
What do you notice?
REFLECTION
 Whole
group…some questions to consider

What do the three BIRs tell you about
Justin?

What strengths does Justin have?

What behaviors does Justin need help
with?

What other data would help?
OJECTIVES – A REVIEW
Participants will



Investigate the various data sources available for
use
Determine how the BIR functions as a tool for
staff to guide decisions on challenging behavior
Explore the function of the BIR as a Team
BEHAVIOR INCIDENT REPORT
Thoughts, Questions,
Feedback
THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!
Now What?
Exploring What a Behavioral
Incident Report and Other
Data Sources Have to Offer