IA Behavior Management Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student repeatedly calls out answers without raising their hand. Which strategy best addresses this behavior while maintaining participation?
- Ignore the student completely
- Use a private signal or nonverbal cue to remind the student to raise their hand (Correct answer)
- Publicly reprimand the student each time
- Remove the student from the activity
Correct answer: Use a private signal or nonverbal cue to remind the student to raise their hand
Private nonverbal cues redirect behavior discreetly without embarrassing the student or disrupting the class.
Question 2: What does 'differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior' (DRI) involve?
- Punishing undesired behavior consistently
- Reinforcing a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the problem behavior (Correct answer)
- Ignoring all student behaviors
- Reinforcing any behavior except the problem behavior
Correct answer: Reinforcing a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the problem behavior
DRI reinforces a behavior physically incompatible with the problem behavior, making it impossible to do both simultaneously.
Question 3: A student's tantrum behavior has been increasing despite consistent ignoring. What should the instructional aide consider?
- Increasing the intensity of punishment
- Reviewing whether extinction is working or if an extinction burst is occurring (Correct answer)
- Removing all reinforcement from the classroom
- Placing the student in isolation immediately
Correct answer: Reviewing whether extinction is working or if an extinction burst is occurring
An extinction burst — a temporary increase in behavior before it decreases — is a normal part of the extinction process.
Question 4: Which component is essential when writing a behavioral objective for a student with challenging behaviors?
- A vague description of desired improvement
- A measurable, observable behavior with criteria and conditions (Correct answer)
- The student's diagnosis and medical history
- A list of all previous interventions tried
Correct answer: A measurable, observable behavior with criteria and conditions
Behavioral objectives must be specific, observable, and measurable with clear criteria to track progress effectively.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a 'behavior contract' in the classroom?
- To formally punish students for misbehavior
- To create a written agreement between the student and teacher outlining expected behaviors and consequences (Correct answer)
- To document every negative behavior for legal purposes
- To replace the student's IEP behavior goals
Correct answer: To create a written agreement between the student and teacher outlining expected behaviors and consequences
Behavior contracts clearly outline expectations, goals, and rewards/consequences that students agree to, increasing accountability.
Question 6: During a group activity, one student begins disrupting peers. The instructional aide's FIRST response should be to:
- Immediately send the student to the office
- Use proximity and low-level redirection before escalating consequences (Correct answer)
- Raise their voice to regain control
- End the group activity for all students
Correct answer: Use proximity and low-level redirection before escalating consequences
Using proximity and low-level redirection addresses minor disruptions while preserving the learning environment for the whole group.
Question 7: A student earns tokens throughout the day and exchanges them for a preferred activity. This is an example of:
- Negative reinforcement
- A token economy system (Correct answer)
- Response cost
- Time-out procedure
Correct answer: A token economy system
A token economy uses symbols (tokens) that students earn and later exchange for backup reinforcers, shaping desired behavior.
IA Behavior Management Techniques 2
A student repeatedly calls out answers without raising their hand.
Which strategy best addresses this behavior while maintaining participation?