Skip to main content
Log in

A Daily Check-In/Check-Out Intervention for Students with Internalizing Concerns

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Behavioral Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of a self-management intervention, known as “Check-in/Check-out” (CICO) on academic engaged time and internalizing problems of three elementary-level students identified with risk for internalizing behavior problems. A multiple baseline across three students’ research design was used to examine effects of CICO on student academic engagement. Classroom teacher ratings of student anxiety, depression, somatic complaints and overall internalizing problems were collected pre- and post-intervention. Participant perceptions of the intervention when applied to students with internalizing concerns were also gathered. Visual analysis of direct observation data and single-case effect size estimates indicated positive effect for one student, questionable effect for a second student, and limited effect on academic engaged time for the third student. Post-intervention teacher ratings of student behavior showed decreases in several problem areas including anxiety, depression, and overall internalizing problems. Finally, student and parent participants generally viewed the intervention favorably and school personnel were able to implement a majority of intervention components with fidelity. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA school-age forms & profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J. (2012). Student/classroom observation and analysis. EZ Education Tools. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scoa/id494707509.

  • Bayer, J. K., Rapee, R. M., Hiscock, H., Ukoumunne, O. C., Mihalopoulos, C., Clifford, S., et al. (2011). The Cool Little Kids randomized controlled trial: Population-level early prevention for anxiety disorders. BioMed Central Public Health, 11, 2–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breslau, J., Miller, E., Breaslau, N., Bohnert, K., Lucia, V., & Schweitzer, J. (2009). The impact of early behavior disturbances on academic achievement in high school. Pediatrics, 123, 1472–1476.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, A., & Anderson, C. (2008). Enhancing effects of targeted interventions with function-based support. Behavioral Disorders, 33, 233–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, A., & Anderson, C. M. (2011). Check-in/check-out: A systematic evaluation and component analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44(2), 315–326. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2011.44-315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, A., Rodriguez, B. J., Anderson, C., & Barnes, A. (2013). Effects of a Tier 2 intervention on classroom disruptive behavior and academic engagement. Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 7, 32–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheney, D. A., Stage, S. A., Hawken, L. S., Lynass, L., Mielenz, C., & Waugh, M. (2009). A 2-year outcome study of the check, connect, and expect intervention for students at risk for severe behavior problems. Journal of Emotional & Behavioral Disorders, 17, 226–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, C. R., Rasetshwane, K. B., Truelson, E., Grant, S., Dart, E. H., Collins, T. A., et al. (2011). Development and validation of the student internalizing behavior screener: Examination of reliability, validity, and classification accuracy. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 36, 71–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crone, D., Hawken, L. S., & Horner, R. H. (2010). Responding to problem behavior in schools: The behavior education program (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dart, E. H., Furlow, C. M., Collins, T. A., Brewer, E., Gresham, F. M., & Chenier, K. H. (2015). Peer-mediated check-in/check-out for students at-risk for internalizing disorders. School Psychology Quarterly, 30(2), 229. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000092.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DSM-5 American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Duchesne, S., Vitaro, F., Larose, S., & Tremblay, R. E. (2008). Trajectories of anxiety during elementary-school years and the prediction of high school noncompletion. Journal of Youth Adolescence, 37, 1134–1146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ennis, R. P., Jolivette, K., Swoszowski, N. C., & Johnson, M. L. (2012). Secondary prevention efforts at a residential facility for students with emotional and behavioral disorders: Function-based check-in, check-out. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 29(2), 79–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/0886571X.2012.669250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fairbanks, S., Sugai, G., Guardino, D., & Lathrop, M. (2007). Response to intervention: Examining classroom behavior support in second grade. Exceptional Children, 73(3), 288–310. https://doi.org/10.1177/001440290707300302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filter, K. J., McKenna, M. K., Benedict, E. A., Horner, R. H., Todd, A. W., & Watson, J. (2007). Check in/check out: A post hoc evaluation of an efficient, secondary-level targeted intervention for reducing problem behaviors in schools. Education and Treatment of Children, 30, 69–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gast, D. L. (2010). Single subject research methodology in behavioral sciences. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F., & Elliott, S. N. (2008). Social skills improvement system (SSIS) rating scales. Bloomington, MN: Pearson Assessments.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawken, L. S. (2006). School psychologists as leaders in the implementation of a targeted intervention: The behavior education program. School Psychology Quarterly, 21, 91–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawken, L. S., & Horner, R. H. (2003). Evaluation of a targeted intervention within a schoolwide system of behavior support. Journal of Behavioral Education, 12, 225–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawken, L., MacLeod, S., & O’Neill, R. (2011). Effects of function of problem behavior on the responsiveness to the Behavior Education Program. Education and Treatment of Children, 34, 551–574.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawken, L. S., MacLeod, K. S., & Rawlings, L. (2007). Effects of the behavior education program (BEP) on office discipline referrals of elementary school students. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 9, 94–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herman, K. C., Reinke, W. M., Lambert, S. F., & Ialongo, N. S. (2008). Low academic competence in first grade as a risk factor for depressive cognitions and symptoms in middle school. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 55, 400–410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herman, K. C., Reinke, W. M., Parkin, J., Traylor, K. B., & Agarwal, G. (2009). Childhood depression: Rethinking the role of the school. Psychology in the Schools, 46, 433–446.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, K. K., Chenier, J. S., & Gresham, F. M. (2014). Evaluation of check in/check out for students with internalizing behavior problems. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 22(3), 135–148. https://doi.org/10.1177/1063426613476091.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ialongo, N. S., Edelsohn, G., & Kellam, S. G. (2001). A further look at the prognostic power of young children’s reports of depressed mood and feelings. Child Development, 72, 736–747. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00312.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamphaus, R. W., & Reynolds, C. R. (2007). Behavioral and emotional screening system. Manual. Minneapolis, MN: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E. (1982). Single-case research designs: Methods for clinical and applied settings. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lane, K. L., Capizzi, A. M., Fisher, M. H., & Ennis, R. P. (2012). Secondary prevention efforts at the middle school level: An application of the behavior education program. Education and Treatment of Children, 35(1), 51–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenz, A. S. (2013). Calculating effect size in single-case research: A comparison of nonoverlap methods. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 46, 64–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • March, R. E., Horner, R. H., Lewis-Palmer, T., Brown, D., Crone, D., Todd, A. W., et al. (2000). Functional assessment checklist for teachers and staff (FACTS). Eugene, OR: Educational and Community Supports.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh, K., Campbell, A. L., Carter, D. R., & Dickey, C. R. (2009). Differential effects of a tier two behavior intervention based on function of problem behavior. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 11, 82–93. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300708319127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh, K., Ty, S. V., & Miller, L. D. (2014). Effects of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports on internalizing problems current evidence and future directions. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 16, 209–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merikangas, K. R., He, J., Burstein, M., Swanson, S. A., Avenevoli, S., Cui, L., et al. (2010). Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in U.S. Adolescents: Results from the national comorbidity survey replication—Adolescent supplement (NCS-A). Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 49, 980–989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, B. S., Stormont, M., & Gage, N. A. (2011). Tier two interventions implemented within the context of a tiered prevention framework. Behavioral Disorders, 36, 236–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, B. S., Adamson, R., & McKenna, J. W. (2017). Curbing our enthusiasm: An analysis of the check-in/check-out literature using the Council for Exceptional Children’s evidence-based practice standards. Behavior Modification, 41(3), 343–367. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445516675273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mong, M., Johnson, K., & Mong, K. (2011). Effects of check in/check out on behavioral indices and mathematics generalization. Behavioral Disorders, 36, 225–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. (2009). Preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders among young people: Progress and possibilities. Committee on the prevention of mental disorders and substance abuse among children, youth and young adults: Research advances and promising interventions. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (2004). Behavior assessment system for children-second edition. Manual (2nd ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scruggs, T. E., & Mastropieri, M. A. (1998). Summarizing single-subject research: Issues and applications. Behavior Modification, 22, 221–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scruggs, T. E., Mastropieri, M. A., & Casto, G. (1987). The quantitative synthesis of single-subject research: Methodology and validation. Remedial and Special education, 8, 24–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simonsen, B., Myers, D., & Briere, D. E. (2011). Comparing a behavioral check-in/check-out (CICO) intervention to standard practice in an urban middle school setting using an experimental group design. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 13(1), 31–48. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300709359026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stormont, M., Reinke, W., Herman, K., & Lembke, E. (2012). Tier two interventions: Academic and behavior supports for children at risk for failure. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugai, G., Lewis-Palmer, T., Todd, A. W., & Horner, R. H. (2001). School-wide evaluation tool. Eugene: University of Oregon, Educational and Community Supports.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tawney, J. W., & Gast, D. L. (1984). Single-subject research in special education. Columbus, OH: Merrill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Todd, A. W., Campbell, A. L., Meyer, G. G., & Horner, R. H. (2008). The effects of a targeted intervention to reduce problem behaviors: Elementary school implementation of check-in check-out. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 10, 46–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H. M., Ramsey, E., & Gresham, F. M. (2004). Antisocial behavior in school: Evidence-based practices (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H. M., & Severson, H. H. (1992). Systematic screening for behavior disorders (SSBD). Sopris West, 1140 Boston Ave., Longmont, CO 80501.

  • Weist, M. D., Eber, L., Horner, R., Splett, J., Putnam, R., Barrett, S., et al. (2018). Improving multitiered systems of support for students with “internalizing” emotional/behavioral problems. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 20(3), 172–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300717753832.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Barbara S. Mitchell.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mitchell, B.S., Lewis, T.J. & Stormont, M. A Daily Check-In/Check-Out Intervention for Students with Internalizing Concerns. J Behav Educ 30, 178–201 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-020-09365-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-020-09365-7

Keywords

Navigation