The Importance of Teacher Knowledge and Skills

To create a successful school wide positive intervention behavior support system, teachers need to have certain skills, such as behavior management, reflection on own teaching, collaboration with school staff, and following through with school wide practices, which are addressed in other posts. According to Blum and Cheny, if teachers do not have these skills, than they relay heavily on office referrals for problem behaviors instead of "teaching students social skills that are necessary for them to succeed in school." (Blum & Cheney, p.239) Although this discipline tactic may produce a short term solution to the problematic behavior, in the long run it may "increase classroom disruptiveness and limit teachers' instructional effectiveness with students." (Blum & Cheney, p.239) Without the essential skills, educators may become ineffective and will not be able to reach or teach their students. By focusing on the problem behavior, they are reinforcing this behavior which will encourage more of the same. With the knowledge and skills, teachers and schools will be able to create a positive behavior plan that works for both the school system as well as the students.