Inclusive Education 
           Conversation Guide for the video:  
           Using a Positive Behaviour Approach to Support Learning 
             A school-wide positive behaviour support approach creates learning environments where all students have the 
                   opportunity to develop the skills and attitudes they need to be engaged and successful learners. 
           Key understandings                                    •   A few students (1 to 7 per cent) have
           •   Schools report that when they use a                   behaviour difficulties that significantly
               school-wide approach to positive behaviour            interfere with their learning and relationships
               supports, a safe and caring learning                  with others, or have medical conditions or
               environment flourishes.                               disabilities that affect their behaviour. These
           •   At the core of a positive behaviour support           students will need intensive and
               approach are positive relationships,                  individualized supports for the long-term,
               school-wide behavioural expectations,                 such as individual behavior support plans.
               positive reinforcement, fair and predictable      •   To implement a positive behaviour
               consequences and direct and differentiated            approach, schools need to collect relevant
               feedback to students about their behaviour.           data to clarify what, where and when
           •   Most students (80 to 85 per cent)                     problem behaviours are occurring, as well
               demonstrate positive behaviour when they              as who is involved. This will inform planning,
               have universal supports such as positive              as well as monitoring and measuring
               relationships, clear expectations and                 success over time.
               differentiated instruction.
           •   There will be a small number of students              “A positive behaviour support approach 
               (5 to 15 per cent) who have difficulty                supports inclusion by creating environments 
               meeting basic behaviour expectations.                 where all students have the skills and 
               These students will benefit from targeted             attitudes they need to be engaged and 
               supports like goal setting, mentoring and             successful learners.” 
               social skills instruction.                                  Creating Supportive Classroom Environments, 
                                                                                                  Alberta Education 
           Learn more about inclusive education: www.alberta.ca/inclusive-education.aspx 
           ©2022 Government of Alberta  |  Updated: June 2022 
                    Questions for Discussion                                                                        More Information 
                    •     How does this video affirm or challenge                                                   •     Supporting Positive Behaviour in Alberta
                          what you believe and understand about                                                           Schools – This Alberta Education resource,
                          supporting positive student behaviour?                                                          the first of a three-part resource is designed
                    •     Discuss the statement “a positive behaviour                                                     to provide school staff with effective
                          approach supports inclusion by creating                                                         strategies to implement a school-wide
                          environments where all students have the                                                        behavioural supports approach (must be
                          skills and attitudes they need to be engaged                                                    logged in to Learn Alberta for access).
                          and successful learners.”                                                                 •     Behaviour and Social Participation – This
                    •     How does the pyramid of intervention model                                                      Alberta Education resource provides
                          support understanding of school-wide                                                            strategies and information to increase
                          approaches to positive behaviour? In your                                                       students’ participation in learning and
                          experience, how have you seen schools                                                           academic success.
                          and authorities use the pyramid of                                                        •     Indicators of Inclusive Schools – This
                          intervention concept to support positive                                                        Alberta Education resource offers
                          behaviour?                                                                                      information and tools that leaders can use
                    •     How could the information in this video be                                                      to support schools and school systems to
                          helpful to your work in the future?                                                             reflect on how their schools are
                                                                                                                          demonstrating a commitment to inclusive
                    Taking the Pulse at the                                                                               education.
                    School and Authority Level                                                                      •     Positive Behaviour Supports for Children –
                    •     How is data being used to inform                                                                This online learning resource, developed 
                          planning around behaviour supports at the                                                       collaboratively by Family Support for 
                          classroom and school level?                                                                     Children with Disabilities, Alberta Education 
                                                                                                                          and Mount Royal University, provides 
                    •     What plans are in place to continue and                                                         positive behaviour support tools, techniques 
                          sustain positive behaviour efforts?                                                             and tips for families and school staff 
                    •     How are stakeholders in the community                                                           supporting children with disabilities. 
                          identified, selected and involved to support
                          positive behaviour initiatives?                                                           Alberta Examples 
                          Adapted from A Guide to Support Implementation:                                           The following Alberta school authorities are 
                          Essential Conditions, www.essentialconditions.ca                                          among those who have developed staff 
                                                                                                                    resources on positive behaviour supports:  
                        “…a behavioural support plan is a document that is                                          •     Red Deer Public Schools—École Oriole
                        designed to change the behaviour of adults with the                                               Park School outlines strategies for
                        expectation that if adult behaviour changes, the                                                  structuring the school environment to foster
                        behaviour of the student will change.”                                                            positive behaviour. 
                        Horner, R.H., & Sugai, G. Developing positive behavioral support systems. In G.             •     Rocky View Schools—This webpage
                        Sugai & T.J. Lewis. (1999).  Developing Positive Behavioral Support for Students 
                        with Challenging Behaviors (Reston,VA: Council for Children with Behavioral                       outlines a process for determining the level
                        Disorders, a Divison of the Council for Exceptional Children) 15-23.                              of support for students with social and
                                                                                                                          emotional learning needs.
                    Learn more about inclusive education: www.alberta.ca/inclusive-education.aspx 
                    ©2022 Government of Alberta  |  Updated: June 2022