Universal Strategies

your success is our mission

HERE AT BEHAVIOUR AND PLAY, WE HAVE MADE IT OUR MISSION TO UNDERSTAND CHILDREN FOR YOU.

Universal supports and strategies are those core programs that are delivered by one of our specialists on a specific topic to benefit an entire class or group of children. Universal supports promotes success in child outcome and are driven by:

• Using resources (programs and effective strategies) creates the foundation for a multi-tier for whole school/community/family model
• Creating common universal (whole group) understanding and ways of functioning
• Formally run 1/2 to 1 Hour presentation/seminar format, which might consist of several sessions depending on the topic. For instance, our anti-bullying program is a minimum of 6 sessions in length with a maximum of 10 sessions depending on the need.

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Effective universal supports alone at times are sufficient to meet the needs of children to be successful in a social and academic setting. Universal strategies are effective because it meets the needs of most children, through effective instruction and behavioural supports, which results in fewer students requiring additional more intensified supports like Behaviour Therapy.  These supports and strategies improve the outcome for the general population whether that is the whole school/class or the whole community. Additionally, these types of strategies and supports are more manageable, cost-effective systems of supports at the secondary and tertiary levels. Effective practices of universal supports have been successful in behavioural change because it creates;

• Clear goals and expectation outcomes for everyone
• Appropriate instructions and tools are used
• Monitoring of progress is implemented to track whether all are performing specific behaviours
• Continuous Positive feedback and encouragement is used (e.g., stars, comments, scores).
• Development of Supportive parent and staff
• Continuous improvement of Universal Supports

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• Explicit instruction

Teaching the specific steps of a strategy and discussing when, how, where, and why to use the strategies

• Modelling

Demonstrate, while thinking aloud, how the strategy is used.

• Guided Practice

Present ample opportunities are provided for participants to practice the strategy, making sure to offer guidance and corrective feedback

• Independent Practice

Allows participants to use the strategies independently and continue to monitor performance and provide corrective feedback.

• Self-Regulation Strategies

Encourages participants to be self-directed in their learning by teaching them to use the strategies such as self-monitoring and goal setting.

• Maintenance and Generalization

Incorporates activities and games that encourage participants to continue to use the strategies and to use it in other settings.

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At Behaviour and Play, each of our universal support programs is created and tailored to the specific audience and the needs of the audience. We create the resources, activities, and tracking systems you need to maintain and instill the new strategies and supports.

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