What is PBL?
Mitchelton Special School follows the school-wide pedagogy of Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL). PBL focuses on clearly outlining, explicitly teaching, and consistently reinforcing the school's core behavioural expectations: Safe, Respectful, and Learner.
Each week, students participate in explicit lessons targeting specific aspects of these expectations. Positive behaviours are acknowledged through the use of Mitchie Magics, which students collect and use to access the PBL Shop on a weekly basis. Additionally, students receive a postcard sent home to celebrate their achievements with parents and carers.
Teachers also recognise students in the classroom who demonstrate safe, respectful, and engaged learning behaviours, awarding certificates at assemblies. Each week the principal recognises one student from each sector of the school as a standout example of a safe, respectful learner.
Parents are welcome to termly PBL fun days where students will engage in fun activities to as a rewards for being Safe, respectful, learners during the term.
Mitchie Magics
Students receive a Mitchie Magic token as their free and frequent reward for displaying safe, respectful and learner behaviour. These tokens are designed to be given out ‘free and frequently’ with explicit feedback e.g. here is a Mitchie Magic because you asked saying please, please is a respectful word. When students have collected all their Mitchie Magic tokens they are able to visit the administration office for a reward and a post card home to their families.
Some testimonials from our school community reiterate the benefits of PBL:
“PBL has promoted a positive experience not just for our child but for our family as well. It has created a structured environment with set achievable expectations for our child and provided them with opportunity to learn behaviours and tasks that is geared towards success on a daily basis. Our family is truly grateful and appreciative on how effective and efficient Mitchelton Special School staff has implemented PBL and the rewarding impact it has made on the life of our child. PBL has given us confidence and assurance that there is always an opportunity for gains and success for our child. “ – Parent of a student in Junior Secondary
“The PBL expectations of being Safe, being Respectful and being a Learner are our classroom rules. These are explicitly taught and modelled on a daily basis, ensuring all students and staff have positive outcomes within the whole school community.” - Classroom Teacher for a Middles class
“Positive Behaviour for Learning underpins all we do at Mitchie. The key word is ‘positive’- all interactions are kept positive and it sets up clear and consistent expectations to ensure students have the best chance of success at school” - PBL Internal Coach for P-12
“PBL helps me be respectful and safe” - Student in Pathways