Positive Action program

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Positive Action program

• Listed as a LEAP Science - Based Program for
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Drugs
• Violence
• Youth Development

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Positive Action program

• Sequenced program K-12

• K through 6
• Middle school
• High school

1986 1987 2003
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PA main themes

• Developing self-concept,
• Actions, interactions and self-talk influence
• self-concept.

PA main goals

• Improving individual self-concept,
• Which should then have a secondary effect on
  reducing drug use, violence and on academic
  improvement.
• PA does provide a specific Drug Education
  Supplement for middle school.

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PA program theory

• Teach the individual as a whole-person,
• Dont separate self-concept from friendship
  forming, drug use, anger management.
• All are linked and have common causes.
• Covers it all curriculum,

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Covers it all curriculum
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PA program design

• Progressive and sequenced,
• Covering 6 similar unit themes at each grade
  level K-12

• Self-concept what, how, why
• Positive actions physically intellectually
• Managing yourself
• Treating others the way you like to be treated
• Telling yourself the truth
• Improving yourself continually.

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PA sessions

• Teacher led,
• Incorporates story-telling and reflective
  questions, class discussions, poems and songs,
• Language and some concepts in early years may
  need adjusting.

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PA sessions

• Examples of sessions K-12 provided

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Cost Elementary - 2400
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Cost Middle school - 1650
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Cost High school - 1275
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PA implementation

• Year-long and daily K-6
• Year-long and weekly in MS HS
• No formal training required for the teacher
• Implemented by the classroom teacher

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PA research

• 2 published articles 2001 2002 (one from a
  lesser known journal),
• Only on effects from K-6 program,
• Effects listed as general behavior or academic
  achievement,
• Data gained from Student Report Cards,
• Longitudinal study - an approximation was made
  regarding number of PA students.

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PA results

• Some significant effects in reducing a broad
  range of problem behaviors,
• Also for improving Math Reading scores,
• No specific testing re tobacco-use, though it
  did appear to reduce general AOD (including
  tobacco-use) in MS HS.

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PA summary

• Thorough
• Whole-child, non segmented
• Sequenced K-12
• Uses various teaching techniques
• Kits are all encompassing
• School based, teacher led
• Parent and community sections
• Some significant effects in reducing a broad
  range of problem behaviors
• Short daily sessions which aim to enhance a
  positive school environment.

• Research has some design limitations
• Claims of effect are broad
• Many variables in longitudinal study
• K-6 may need updating (1986)
• Scripted lessons may be difficult to implement or
  unappealing for some teachers
• Occasional spelling mistakes in kits and on
  website.