Have you ever used the Incredible 5-Point Scale? This is a very simple tool that can be used to teach self-regulation. It was originally designed for children with autism, but it is highly effective with anybody of any age. It’s simply a 5-point scale for regulating. It was created by Kari Dunn Buron who describes herself as a pretty good teacher from Minnesota.
Although I have not found specific research conducted on the scale itself, it is a form of self-management and similar to other self-management strategies. Self-management is considered an evidence-based strategy by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders. In addition, it’s a great replacement behavior for challenging behavior.
Consequently as a tool for implementing self-management, it would be considered evidence-based and you can learn more about self-management strategies in general through the Autism Internet Modules.
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What is It?
The 5-point scale is exactly what it sounds like. A 5-point scale that is developed to help an individual understand and learn when emotions, voices, or whatever you are moderating is getting out of control. It can be developed by the teacher or parent or as a collaboration between the teacher / parent and the individual with autism (or other behavioral issues). I have used it successfully from kindergarten through high school. And many times I think it might be useful for some “typical” adults.
Anger Management Tool
The example below was developed for a student who had difficulty managing anger. A 1 meant everything was fine and 5 meant he was hitting, screaming and crying. The goal was to try to recognize that he was a 2 or a 3. Then he needed to learn to bring the anger level down before it reached a 5. To do this he could take a break, do some deep breathing, or other strategies we had rehearsed with him when he was calm.
Why I Like the 5-Point Scale for Teaching Self-Regulation
- Simplicity: How difficult is it to break something down into 5 levels. I have also simplified it with younger children or individuals with more cognitive difficulties to a 3 point scale. I would recommend, if you simplify it, to simplify it as 1, 3, and 5 so that later you can add 2 and 4 if needed. However, I have had folks who used a 3-point scale in the same manner.
- Objectivity. By rating feelings and behaviors as numbers, they aren’t labeled as good and bad. Being angry isn’t bad and we all have been angry. It’s what we do to express that anger and manage that anger that matters. The 5-point scale helps individuals with difficulty learn how to manage it in an appropriate way.
- Flexibility. This one scale of 5 levels can be used for a wide variety of emotional management, voice levels, anxiety and even understanding other’s behavior and social awareness. For instance, the Incredible 5-Point Scale website has one designed for teaching dating rules.
Easy to Use. The 5-point scale, once a student has learned it, gives caregivers and students a shorthand to talk about feelings. I know teachers who model, “I’m feeling like a 3, I better take a break.” And the scale gives the opportunity to just say to the individual, “How are you feeling?” and he or she can respond with a number. Then no one around him has to know what that means and he doesn’t have to generate much language to express feelings of distress.- Link What to Do with How You Feel. You can use the scale to help students link how they feel with actions to try to reduce their level of stress, anger, voice volume, anxiety, etc. Simply use one of the columns to write actions in. You can have the student generate them with you to talk about it as well.
Resources
So, that is the 5-point scale and why I like it. Let me share some resources to use it.
The Social Behavior and Self-Management book is also a great tool if you are working with adolescents and/or adults to manage and regulate behavior in the community and job sites. The beauty of the scale is that it can be used at any age. This is a small book and relatively inexpensive but it has some great examples of scales appropriate for those of an older age.
The next two books, below, are designed for students to read and I have used them extensively for older students to understand how to use the scales and why it is important.
- The Incredible 5-Point Scale site: Kari’s site has lots of downloadable materials and examples if you look under “Sweet Scale Ideas.
- I will pin examples of the scale on my Pinterest board for Autism Behavior Support, so you will find examples there.
- The Autism Internet Modules has a module on the 5-Point Scale
- And finally, there is a great presentation by the Kansas Technical Assistance Network that includes a video of the presentation and a downloadable Powerpoint handout.
Looking to use a version of the 5-Point Scale? You can find one in my I Can Handle Making Mistakes Behavior Toolkit!
Have you used the 5-point scale? Please share ideas in the comments.
