The Behavior Code Companion

The Behavior Code Companion delivers a helpful inventory of concrete and practical resources for the development and implementation of successful behavior intervention plans for students.

Special educator and behavioral analyst Jessica Minahan, coauthor of The Behavior Code, delivers a companion guide for educators and parents who want to better support students with challenging behaviors. Used by countless educators, the FAIR Behavior Intervention Plan has been proven to improve proactive classroom management, encourage positive teacher-student relationships, and reduce the need for school discipline.

In this book, Minahan offers a wealth of supplemental materials for each stage of the FAIR Behavior Intervention Plan--which involves determining the function (F) of the behavior, offering appropriate accommodations (A), implementing proactive intervention strategies (I), and practicing positive response strategies (R). Among other invaluable supports, she provides clear and direct exercises for brainstorming and reflection, a series of checklists to help with implementation and monitoring progress, and planning activities and templates that can be customized and put to use immediately. The author also recommends apps and other technology that can assist and simplify plan implementation.

Throughout the book, Minahan offers illustrative case studies, with a special focus on students with mental health diagnoses and those with anxiety-related or oppositional behaviors.

Filled with actionable advice, this highly useful resource gives educators and parents the tools to meet challenging behaviors with both confidence and compassion. This volume will help educators create optimal learning environments for all students.
About the Author:

Jessica Minahan, MEd, BCBA, is a board-certified behavior analyst and special educator. She is Director of Behavioral Services at Neuropsychology & Education Services for Children & Adolescents (NESCA), in Newton, Massachusetts, as well as a behavior consultant to schools nationwide. She also holds an adjunct professor position in the special education department at Boston University.

Jessica has over sixteen years of experience in public school systems supporting students with mental health challenges who exhibit concerning behavior. She has extensive experience supporting students with explosive and unsafe behavior, anxiety, trauma histories, emotional and behavioral disabilities, and high-functioning autism. Jessica specializes in staff training and creating behavior intervention plans and systems that combine a behavioral approach with a deep understanding of the student's psychological profile.

Jessica holds a BS in intensive special education from Boston University and a dual master's degree in special education and elementary education from Wheelock College. She has a certificate of graduate study (CGS) in teaching children with autism from the University of Albany and received her behavior analyst training from Northeastern University. A sought-after international public speaker, Jessica has spoken on subjects ranging from effective interventions for students with anxiety to supporting hard-to-reach students in full-inclusion public school settings. She is a blogger for the Huffington Post and the coauthor of The Behavior Code: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Teaching the Most Challenging Students, with Nancy Rappaport (Harvard Education Press, 2012). Her speaking schedule, other publications, and more information are available at www.jessicaminahan.com.