Problem Behavior Leveled Examples
Problem Behavior / Definition / STAFF HANDLED / STAFF OR OFFICE / OFFICELevel 1
Affects student only / Level 2
Affects other
students’ learning / Level 3
Affects orderly
environment (class) / Level 4
Harmful or Illegal Acts
Disruption (minor & major) / Inappropriate disruptions (laughing, noises, passing notes) / Noises, giggling, etc. with no disruption to others. Disrupting child’s own learning. / Inappropriate behavior causing interruption to 1 or 2 other students. Includes loud talking, noises, crying, eat, etc. / Behavior causing an interruption to class/activity. Includes sustained loud talk, yelling, sustained out-of-seat, or continued misuse of materials. Chronic disruptions. M
Disrespect (minor & major) / Rude or impolite behavior. / Refusal to follow instructions. Talking back or rude interactions with other students and/or teacher. Compliance after intervening. / Refusal to follow instructions. Talking back and/or rude interactions with students or teacher without any compliance.
M
Non-Compliance
(minor & major) / Refusal to respond to adult request. / Student sits there quietly not doing anything, but a short time later complies. This may be the case for a student struggling academically. / Student refuses to do work and others notice. Able to get student to work after a brief one-on-one conversation. (Teacher often feels frustration or anger). / Student refuses to do work. Causes loud disruption during class. Teacher must stop class to address situation. Problem behavior may have become habitual or student shows no desire to reduce misbehavior. M
Property misuse (minor)
Destruction of Property / Vandalism (major) / Misuse of property. / Crayon breaking, pencil breaking, throwing small items, tipping back in chair, writing on desk/wall/floor (words not harmful) / Taking others belongings, breaking other’s pencils, standing on desk/table. / Destruction of Property
Writing on bathroom walls, writing on other people’s assignments, etc.
M / Destruction of Property / Vandalism: Carving desktops, graffiti, punching holes in walls, destroying outside property, writing in textbooks, etc.
Physical contact (minor)
Threat of Physical Harm / Fighting / Assault (major) / Touching others. Fighting involves two people engaged in physical contact. Assault will be defined as one beating another. / Non-serious, but inappropriate touching of another (as in punching each other in play, horseplay), rough playground play / Fighting/Assault/Threat
Actions involving serious physical contact with intent to harm. Injury may or may not occur. (hitting, punching, kicking, hair pulling, biting). Threat of harm.
M / Fighting/Assault/Threat
Actions involving serious physical contact with intent to harm. Injury may or may not occur. (hitting, punching, kicking, hair pulling, biting). Threat of harm.
Problem Behavior / Definition / Level 1
Affects student only / Level 2
Affects other
students’ learning / Level 3
Affects orderly
environment (class) / Level 4
Harmful or Illegal Acts
Inappropriate language (minor & major) / Verbal or written message inappropriate for age level. / Bucket-dipping words used toward themselves. / Saying words around other children that are inappropriate for age level. Within a conversation in a non-threatening manner. Words are not aimed at others. / Verbal or written message that include: swearing, name calling, or use of words to a teacher/student in a threatening manner with intent to do harm. (see bullying also) M
Lying (minor & major) / Not telling the truth. / Student tells a lie to teacher/adult to get out of trouble. / Student intentionally tells a non-truth about another student (they are aware) / Lying where it causes emotional harm to another student. Knowingly spreading untruths.
m/M
Cheating (minor & major) / Looking at or copying others’ work. / Cheating on school work. Happens one time. / Chronic cheating (more than 3 times)
M
Theft/Possession of stolen property (minor & major) / Taking items that do not belong to you. / Items taken directly related to self-preservation. Taking lunch because student is hungry. / Taking other property because there is a ‘want’. Honest when confronted and shows remorse. / Sneaky and intentionally taking other’s items (including teacher/adult). Denial when confronted. m/M
Name calling or teasing (minor)
Bullying or Intimidation (major) / Cruel, offensive, intimidating, or humiliating behavior toward others. / Low-intensity pictures, verbal statements, or written notes. (dummy, stupid, slowpoke, nicknames that aren’t liked) / Bullying/Intimidation
Intimidating others physically and/or psychologically. Enjoys negatively influencing others.
Chronic teasing of others.
M / Bullying/Intimidation
Intimidating others physically and/or psychologically. Enjoys negatively influencing others.
Chronic teasing of others.
Weapon (major) / Object used for physical harm. / Toy knives, guns, etc.
M / Knife, gun, scissors used in threatening way, lighters, etc.
Harassment (major) / Civil rights violation. Making fun of others based on gender, race, disability. Includes sexual harassment. / Drawing pictures or writing inappropriate sexual pictures or words. Victim is unaware. Discrimination toward others in written manner where ‘victim’ again unaware. M / Discrimination based on civil rights categories (race, sex, origin, etc.). Includes inappropriate sexual advances or suggestions.
Obscene act (minor or major) / Inappropriate touching of ones own or others’ body parts. / Possible minor—young children often ‘play’. This is normal and not a cause for alarm. / Touching of own “private parts”. Sexually suggestions gestures. Sexual remarks made to other students. **Other students are not touched in any way**
M / Touching of others “private” areas. Sexually suggestive gestures are with others. Sexual remarks said to student.