Challenging Behaviors are in the for-front of many teachers and parents minds this time of year. New students sw up in classrooms or your child is adjusing to a new teacher, etc. When this is the case an FBA is needed. A functional behavior assessment (FBA) is a process in which you observe the individual and take data in order to find out why the person is engaging in the behavior. Many people skip this step and go straight to the solutions. But, by conducting a functional behavior assessment, you try to identify the function that the behavior serves (i.e.why is the person doing this behavior?)

Functional behavioral assessments take time to complete because you need to observe the childand you ask many questions to find out if there are any patterns in the behavior. For example, do they engage in the behavior with one person, but not another, or does the behavior only happen in the AM, etc. These observations, when written down can help to identify a pattern of behavior, and offer an idea of the function that behavior. When conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) several assessment tools may be used. Data collection sheets of various styles, direct observation, interviews, and questioning of the adults who work closely with the person, are a few. Good luck!