13 Fundamentals

An e-mail letter from an elementary school principal in May 2005 indicated the need for adults using Red and Green Choices, or coming into contact with students using its strategies to be full aware of the 13 fundamentals. He ordered many books and posters for his school, so I included with the order supplemental materials, including the 13 points.

Because of his request, I will share..

1.	"Behavioral Stand, A 10 Part Plan to Developing a Specific Individual Approach"	How to Begin - Changing Long-Standing Maladaptive Behavioral Patterns
2.	"Explanation, Expectation, Choice"	Providing Exact Communications of Expectations for Students & Adults - Explain situations and possible tolerable and acceptable solutions, expect the green, allow the student to choose - Is expectation fair and just?
3.	Integration of Behavioral Principles with Red and Green Visual Stimulus	shaping, modeling, pairing, positive reinforcement, antecedent stimulus, task analysis, conditioned reinforcer, natural reinforcer, consequence, contracting, reinforcement of incompatible behavior, positive-practice overcorrection
4.	Red and Green Choices Behavioral Principles	"Behavioral Trust", "Behavioral Mistrust", "Designated Adult", "Designated Area", "Self-Prompting", "Two-Finger Fast Choice", "Think Green"
5.	"The Eventual Uncontrollable Situation"	Immediate Responses, Feedback to Any/All Behavioral Choices
6.	"Behavioral Rules of Engagement"	Adult Characteristics - Setting Adult Behavioral Standards
7.	"All Red Days"	Adjusting Your Plan
8.	Motivation; Do the Consequences Meet the Needs of the Student?	Why Choose Green? - Is it Worth it to the Student?
9.	Using the "Designated Area"; Practicing the Targeted Behavior in Non-Targeted Area
10.	Allowing Students Control Over Their Environment	Negotiations and Compromises from Students and Adults
11.	"Positive Opposites"	Adult Phrases and Wording
12.	"Specific Rules in Specific Environments"	Adapting to Changing Behavioral Expectations
13.	Breaking Down Behaviors Into Their Smallest Sequential Steps	Achievable Behavioral Standards

The Printable Version of the 13 Fundamentals

This includes portions of the e-mail I received from this principal:

..."Three teachers in my school are using red and green choices to a degree in my school. Trust is a major issue. Red and green choices from a trusted adult are less threatening than rewards and punishment. Parents here trust the school most when their children are successful with behavior and academics. We use the Response to Intervention model to meet the needs of all students and meet the mandates of NCLB and IDEA. I’m considering red and green choices as a portion, if not the core, of our Schoolwide plan...

...If Red and Green Choices are being used for a few students or many students, I think it is important that all staff know the fundamentals of it (your 13 points). All staff end up coming in contact with the few or many students and consistency is necessary for their progress. The Response to Intervention model is so geared to the needs of students, as I think Red and Green Choices are. We do quite a bit of self-training here through study and powerpoint, which is why I ask about your presentations...."

"A third grade teacher in my school walks around with a digital camera, taking pictures of her class or individuals choosing green behaviors. She prints them out and labels them with red or green marker and posts them in the room. The entire class responds positively to this intervention."

"I know Green and Red Choices has a place at ______ Elementary. We will continues using the choices, monitoring its effect, and making modifications."

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