The Behavior Code: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students [Paperback]

Jessica Minahan (Author), Nancy Rappaport (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 19, 2012 | ISBN-10: 1612501362 | ISBN-13: 978-1612501369 | Edition: 1

Based on a collaboration dating back nearly a decade, the authors a behavioral analyst and a child psychiatrist reveal their systematic approach for deciphering causes and patterns of difficult behaviors and how to match them with proven strategies for getting students back on track to learn.

The Behavior Code includes user-friendly worksheets and other helpful resources.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Teaching is an art, but it s one that can be improved with science. Based on what we have learned in the field of psychology, The Behavior Code gives teachers the tools to transform the behavior patterns of some of their most challenging students. By using this essential book, teachers instead of punishing or writing off troubled students can get them onto a path for success. --Geoffrey Canada, president and ceo, Harlem Children s Zone

The Behavior Code is truly a godsend. Concisely written and easy to read, this book offers a framework for creating successful behavorial plans. I predict that once teachers and principals begin to apply the authors approach for understanding and changing problematic behavior, they ll never look elsewhere for help again. Buy it, read it, use it, read it again and again and pass it on! --William S. Pollack, associate clinical professor, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

About the Author

Jessica Minahan is a board-certified behavior analyst and special educator who is currently employed in the Newton (Mass.) public school system as a district-wide behavior analyst. Nancy Rappaport is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of In Her Wake: A Child Psychiatrist Explores the Mystery of Her Mother s Suicide (Basic Books, 2009).

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Education Press; 1 edition (April 19, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1612501362
• ISBN-13: 978-1612501369
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Education & Reference > Schools & Teaching > Special Education > Behavioral Disorders
  • #85 in Books > Business & Investing > Reference

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The most logical interventions that all teachers (and parents) can implement with ease. April 12, 2012

By Suzanne

Format:Paperback

Jessica has finally shared her most successful behavioral interventions! I have worked with her for years and find myself wondering what Jess would do with this really challenging kiddo. Now, I can look it up! Thank you Jess - for all the time and energy you have invested in making sure that the rest of us can benefit from your intelligence and creativity. I highly recommend this book for even slightly challenging kids. I have to admit that I have modified some of the interventions to use with my son and occasionally... my husband (shh, don't tell).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Humane Approach to Children With Challenging Behaviors February 4, 2013

By txmama

Format:Paperback

The Behavior Code, by Jessica Minahan and Nancy Rappaport, is built on the idea that "behavior is communication" (p. 15) and that kids' actions represent their efforts to solve problems. Minahan and Rappaport specify that behavior can serve one or more of four functions: gaining attention, escaping something undesirable, gaining something desirable, and obtaining sensory satisfaction. Teachers need to look at kids' behaviors and figure out what they communicate in order to respond effectively. Minahan and Rappaport provide a template for interpreting challenging behaviors called the ABC data sheet (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence; p. 204).

Minahan and Rappaport also claim that behavior occurs in patterns with antecedents and responses as bookends (p. 23), and they provide an acronym to help teachers remember how to approach behaviors: F.A.I.R. stands for Functional hypothesis of behavior and antecedent analysis, Accommodations, Interaction Strategies, and Response Strategies (p. 31). This acronym means that when kids exhibit challenging behaviors, teachers should consider what occurred immediately before the behavior (antecedents). Then, they should plan accommodations that prevent those antecedents from arising until the student has been trained in underdeveloped skills. While the student is learning replacement behaviors, coping strategies, and new skills, the teacher should engage in relationship building (interaction strategies) so that the student trusts him or her and is comfortable. Finally, if challenging behaviors still occur, despite the teacher's efforts, Minahan and Rappaport recommend response strategies to decrease the likelihood that they will occur again....

After introducing their general approach, Minahan and Rappaport address four categories of challenging behavior in greater detail. Specifically, they discuss how to recognize and respond to anxiety, oppositional behavior, withdrawn behavior, and sexualized behavior.

This book provides a humane perspective on children who exhibit challenging behaviors. Minahan and Rappaport clearly see each child as a unique human being who is doing the best that he or she can with the biology and circumstances he or she has been given. The recommended accommodations provide children with what they need without rewarding them for their bad behavior.

This book also shows a deep appreciation and understanding of how much teachers have to do in order to manage a classroom and teach social and academic skills. The recommended activities in this book can be squeezed into short moments when the teacher records a behavior or prompts a child to use coping strategy, and Minahan and Rappaport point out that often challenging students take more time than a teacher realizes, so by being proactive rather than reactive, the teacher can actually spend less time with the student but obtain better results.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to all teachers, school staff, and parents. Although the book is meant to help teachers respond to their most challenging students, it provides a positive way of understanding and responding to bad behavior from all children, and as a result, it is a worthwhile read for anyone who lives or works with children. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Expert help May 23, 2012

By Amy

Format:Paperback

The Behavior Code provides know-how and guidance to over-extended teachers working to meet the needs of all their students, while being drained by the demands of the most challenging few. The authors have made it their mission to enable teachers to reach their most demanding, at-risk students -and maintain an effective learning environment. This timely book provides a proven approach with constructive practices that can be readily implemented. The Behavior Code sends the hopeful and reassuring message that all children, including those with mental health issues, are able to be successful learners and valued members of our school community.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for teachers December 8, 2012

By MKC

Format:Paperback

As an experienced teacher, I found this book to be a survival guide. It was a realistic resource to use with my most challenging students in a diverse, urban setting. This book provided me the necessary tools to assist my students who have challenging behaviors to interact positively with their peers. Once I established these easy, practical routines and strategies it gave me time to focus on teaching and have less daily interruptions. Is this not the goal of every classroom teacher, new or experienced?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for parents and teachers! December 2, 2012

By Dr.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is an excellent resource. Although I am not a teacher, I am a parent of a child with anxiety and the tips and suggestions in this book has been so helpful. This book was so good that I bought a copy for my son's school so that all the teachers had the opportunity to use it as a resource.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! August 29, 2012

By Sarah S. Miller

Format:Paperback

I am a school counselor and think this book is great! It has so much valuable, descriptive information that is really useful in working with kids at school. I asked two of my teachers to read the chapter on anxiety and they both found it incredibly eye-opening and useful. They said that they have seen so many of the behaviors but never identified them as anxiety. The book is helpful in thinking about anxiety and oppositional behavior but it is also provides concrete ideas to use with children. I highly recommend it for all classroom teachers. Whether we know it or not, there are more and more anxious children in our classrooms! This book helps know how to help them succeed in school.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Behavior Code May 12, 2012

By Caitlin

Format:Paperback

The Behavior Code is a valuable resource for school clinicians, administrators and teachers alike. Not only does The Behavior Code help treaters understand the whole child and what factors contribute to disruptive behavior, it also provides concrete, classroom friendly interventions and resources.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So practical! May 12, 2012

By Educator

Format:Hardcover

This book has some fantastic, concrete strategies for teachers and school administrators to use when dealing with difficult behavior! I've been looking for a good reference to share with fellow educators, and I'm happy to finally find a source with workable strategies. It is easy to use and understand. I recommend it to anyone who works with students in the classroom!