Radical Behavior: A Handbook for Humanizing the Functional Behavior Assessment

by Christopher McMaster

Finally, an affordable and accessible resource for educators!

Radical Behavior offers a needed re-assessment of how teachers understand behavior issues found in their classrooms. Presented in clear language and not awash in acronyms, Radical Behavior demystifies the Functional Behavior Assessment and walks the reader through each step of the FBA process. Rather than try to ‘fix’ the child or enforce compliance, Radical Behavior challenges the educator to become agents of change and advocates for those in their care.
Designed for both professionals and students this handbook introduction to the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)A view of behavior as a form of communication and how to begin to listen to what it is sayingAn intimate understanding of what it means to be the subject of an FBATasks/Activities to guide learningTypes of data collection and methods of data analysisCreating SMART goals and objectivesThinking Points that encourage the reader to reflect critically on the system in which they work and the role they play
Radical Humanizing the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is a needed addition to classroom practice and teacher training.


Table of Contents

Getting Started
Behavior as Communication
Data Collection Quantitative Data
Data Collection Qualitative Data
The Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA): Learning by Doing
The FBA, Part 1: Statement of Intent
The FBA, Part 2: Data Collection
The FBA, Part 3: Data Analysis
The FBA, Part 4: Goals and Objectives
The FBA, Part 5: The Plan
Reflecting on the Process
Knowing What Creating Circles of Courage
Fostering Engaged Citizenship through Public Achievement
References
About the author

155 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2024

Reviews

[Henton Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Christopher McMaster,

I wanted to take a moment to share my sincere appreciation for Humanizing the Functional Behavior Assessment. Your work is not only informative, but deeply humane and it meaningfully reshaped how I think about behavior, education, and advocacy in the classroom.

What immediately stood out to me was the clarity and accessibility of your writing. By removing excessive jargon and acronyms, you make the FBA process approachable without sacrificing depth. This balance makes the book invaluable for both experienced educators and those still learning the foundations of behavior assessment.

Your emphasis on behavior as communication is especially powerful. Rather than framing children as problems to be fixed, you challenge educators to listen more closely, reflect honestly, and take responsibility as agents of change. This perspective feels both radical and necessary in today’s educational environments.

I was particularly impressed by the step-by-step structure of the FBA process from intent through planning and the thoughtful integration of quantitative and qualitative data. The reflective Thinking Points and guided activities encourage educators not just to do FBAs, but to truly understand the human impact of their decisions.

What truly sets this book apart is the empathy woven throughout. Your understanding of what it means to be the subject of an FBA adds moral clarity and depth that is often missing from technical guides. It reminds readers that this work is ultimately about dignity, equity, and care.

Humanizing the Functional Behavior Assessment is a meaningful contribution to classroom practice and teacher education. It reflects a strong commitment to both educators and the students they serve, and it has left a lasting impression on me.

Thank you for this important and inspiring work.

Warm regards,
Henton Joe

[Alonzo L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radical Behavior: A Handbook for Humanizing the Functional Behavior Assessment is exactly the kind of book educators have been waiting for. Christopher McMaster strips away the intimidation and jargon that so often surrounds behavior analysis and replaces it with clarity, compassion, and purpose. This book does not treat behavior as a problem to be controlled, but as communication to be understood and that shift alone makes it transformative.

What makes Radical Behavior stand out is its humanity. McMaster consistently centers the lived experience of the child and challenges educators to reflect on their own role within systems that too often prioritize compliance over connection. The step-by-step walkthrough of the FBA process is practical and accessible, but never mechanical. The reflective “Thinking Points,” real-world tasks, and balanced use of qualitative and quantitative data invite educators to slow down, listen, and act with intention.

This book is not just a handbook it is a call to ethical practice. It empowers teachers to become advocates, not enforcers, and reminds us that meaningful behavior change begins with dignity, relationship, and understanding. Radical Behavior should be required reading for teacher preparation programs and a permanent resource on every educator’s shelf. It doesn’t just teach how to conduct an FBA; it teaches how to be the kind of educator students deserve.

[Linnea W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Radical Behavior is the rare professional text that manages to be both intellectually rigorous and deeply humane. Christopher McMaster doesn’t just explain the Functional Behavior Assessment—he reclaims it. This book reframes behavior not as something to control or correct, but as meaningful communication that deserves careful listening and ethical response.

What stood out most to me was the clarity and accessibility of the writing. McMaster walks the reader through each stage of the FBA process without drowning it in acronyms or compliance-driven language. Instead, he invites educators to slow down, reflect, and examine their own role within the systems they work in. The balance between quantitative and qualitative data collection, paired with guided tasks and reflective “Thinking Points,” makes the learning both practical and transformative.

Perhaps most importantly, Radical Behavior centers the lived experience of the student. The emphasis on humanizing assessment practices and challenging deficit-based thinking felt not only refreshing but necessary. This is a book that encourages educators to become agents of change rather than enforcers of conformity.

[bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a special education teacher, I’ve gone through multiple trainings on Functional Behavior Assessments, but nothing has made the process as human and accessible as this book. McMaster does away with all the jargon and focuses on what really matters: understanding our students as people. His emphasis on behavior as communication challenged my assumptions and helped me create more compassionate, effective plans. Highly recommended for any teacher who wants to do better with students rather than to them.

[Michael James · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a grad student in education, I often find myself overwhelmed by theoretical texts. Radical Behavior was a breath of fresh air. It’s clear, grounded, and even includes reflection questions that made me think deeply about my own biases and practice. The activities were hands-on and useful, and I appreciated how McMaster connects the FBA process to bigger questions of justice, equity, and student voice. Every teacher-in-training should read this.