Special Education K-5 ELA and Supplemental Guide

Behavioral Instructional Priorities TIER 2 Implementation Guide Matches Function(s): Attention and escape

Link to Tier 2 - Instructional Guide document

TOKEN ECONOMIES A system whereby participants earn generalized conditioned reinforcers (e.g., tokens, chips, points) as an immediate consequence for specific behaviors; participants accumulate tokens and exchange them for items and activities from a menu of backup reinforcers.

Things to Consider:

Implementation Steps: ● Determine which behavior you are

● Before moving to Tier 2 Token Economies, make sure Tier 1 strategies are being used consistently. ● Define target behavior ● Collect frequency data on how often behavior occurs. Determine Rate of Reinforcement: Often times when people say the token economy is not working, they are not providing reinforcement enough. Reinforcement needs to be provided at a high enough rate that it is happening more frequently then the undesired behavior. If the behavior is occurring about every 10 minutes, reinforcement for appropriate behavior needs to occur, on average, every 5 to 8 minutes. If the behavior is occurring about every 2 minutes, reinforcement for appropriate behavior needs to occur, on average, every 15 seconds to a minute. Increase Rate of Reinforcement: Increase the frequency of of reinforcement by shortening the time in between opportunities to earn tokens. Example: If the student is only getting a token on average every 15 minutes, lessen that time to on average every 8-10. Decrease the amount of tokens needed to earn the backup reinforcer. Example: If the student needs 10 tokens to earn a break or a prize, this can be lessened to only needing 5 to earn the backup reinforcer. Layer Multiple Token Economies : Multiple token economies should be going at the same time to target different behavior. Example: The student is earning classroom money for work completion, have a 10 frame for appropriate volume level, and a dot-to-dot for timely transitions.

addressing with the token system ● Select what the token will

look like (check marks, stickers smiley faces) reinforcer. To determine what the student will be

● Define the backup

working toward or earning access to, assess the student’s interests and motivation. ● Determine the criteria for success: determine how many tokens are needed pennies, 5 stickers, a 10-hole punch card, 7 pieces of a puzzle, etc.) ● Provide an instruction or opportunity to respond. When the student responds correctly, the teacher awards a token, or places a token on the student’s token board. ● Continue this process to earn the backup reinforcer (i.e., 10

until the student has earned all the tokens. After the student has earned all of the tokens, the teacher provides backup reinforcer.

● After the student

becomes familiar with the system, introduce new goals. ● Over time, increase the criteria for earning tokens

(i.e., the number of correct responses).

Fidelity Check: ❏

Tier 1 fidelity check

❏ Reinforcement is provided on average, at a higher rate than problem behavior occurs ❏ Reinforcement has been increased from tier 1 levels of reinforcement. ❏ Multiple token economies are running with full fidelity.

Checklist created by: The University of Washington. Additional resources can be found here