Creating a positive and productive learning environment is every teacher’s goal, right?! The secret to this success is encouraging positive behavior in the classroom! By implementing several powerful strategies, you can foster this culture of positivity among your students as soon as today.
- Create and follow basic routines
- Have a morning or afternoon meeting
- Be consistent and follow through
- Teach and practice coping skills
- Add brain breaks
- Provide clear explanations
- Praise good behavior
7 Ways to Encourage Positive Behavior in the Classroom
1. Create and Follow Basic Routines
Routines help students to know what to expect and give a positive sense of structure. Students feel more confident when they feel secure and can predict essential pieces of their day.
Set basic routines for moments and situations like these:
- Entering the classroom
- Completing assignments
- Transitioning out of the classroom
When students know what to expect, they’re more likely to feel emotionally at ease and better able to manage their feelings and actions.
2. Have a Morning or Afternoon Meeting
Gathering together as a class for a short morning or afternoon meeting sets a positive tone for the day and allows for open communication. Use these times to discuss classroom and individual goals, celebrate accomplishments, and grow closer together through team-building activities.
Discuss ways to make improvements to any areas of classroom concern too.
Involving your students in these conversations empowers them to take ownership of their behaviors and contributions to the classroom community!
3. Be Consistent and Follow Through
You’ve heard it before, but it’s so true: consistency is key!
If you have established rules in the classroom, be sure to enforce them consistently. Students are smart! They will recognize just one time that you let them slide and know that they can now forevermore push the limits.
*Setting rules and expectations that are age appropriate and developmentally appropriate is key here for more consistent follow-through from your students!
Students will learn that they can trust you and that you are fair when they learn that you’re consistent and truly do what you say– which results in more positive behavior in the classroom.
4. Teach and Practice Coping Skills
Equip students with the tools they need to manage their own emotions.
Great coping skills to start with include:
- Mindfulness exercises
- Deep breathing
- Journaling
- Visiting the classroom calm corner
When students begin to learn how to regulate their feelings and reactions, they are better equipped to handle challenges and conflicts in a positive way.
5. Add Brain Breaks
Short breaks throughout the day can boost students’ ability to focus and stay engaged. These “brain breaks” can be a quick stretch, a moment to dance (Go Noodle is so fun!), or even a group activity.
These breaks allow students to get moving and recharge. When they feel energized, they’ll likely have improved behavior in the classroom!
6. Provide Clear Explanations
Be clear when giving explanations to your students (no matter how young or old they are!). Use visuals, examples, and concise descriptions so there is little room for questions when it comes to what you’re saying.
When there is clarity, confusion and misunderstanding are less. Disruptive behaviors will be less too!
7. Praise Good Behavior
Positive reinforcement is one of the most powerful tools for shaping positive behavior in the classroom!
Acknowledge and praise students for showing good behaviors– both big and small. Use sticky notes to give personal notes of praise and share out loud in front of the class and other teachers for extra confidence boosts from time to time.
Sharing praises frequently encourages a positive classroom environment for all!
Use Resources to Teach Positive Behavior in the Classroom
Resources are a great way to supplement each of these 7 strategies for encouraging positive behavior in the classroom.
Behavior Toolbox
The Behavior Intervention Toolbox includes classroom interventions for FIFTY of the most common behavior problems and concerns. It features 3 easy ways to address the area of concern:
- What the problem looks like
- What to do about it
- What NOT to do
This comprehensive behavior resource is a MUST HAVE for RTI MTSS PBIS!
Forecast Your Choices
Teach students self-control with this activity about making good choices. Students sort through positive and negative choices and decide on alternative choices they could make. It’s a great option to use with students who have challenges with impulse control.
Use Books & Videos
Using books and videos is another great way to help illustrate a topic for kids. As you are reading, ask questions and engage kids to help them comprehend and stay engaged!
Books
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My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook
Louis struggles with erupting a lot, when other people talk words just pop out of his mouth. He has trouble interrupting, waiting for his turn to speak in class, and speaking at inappropriate times. His words slime down from his head, onto his tongue. His tummy rumbles, and grumbles, and his words start to wiggle and do a jiggle, and then his volcano (mouth) erupts. In class during an important presentation for Louis, a classmate named Richard interrupts and tells a random story that takes all of the attention off of what Louis was saying. Louis learns how it feels to be interrupted.
His mom teaches him different coping strategies to help control his eruptions such as biting down hard and hold in the words, take a deep breath, push the words out through your nose. Then when it is your turn to talk, take a deep breath and push them back into your mouth. Louis uses this technique and finds that it works to help keep his words inside until it’s his turn to speak.
This book companion lesson is the perfect addition to encourage self-control and positive behavior in the classroom!
Ants in My Pants by Julia Cook
Louis from “My Mouth is a Volcano” is back, but this time to help teach students to control their wiggles. The book starts out with Louis struggling to control his wiggles on the carpet during story time, waiting in line in the cafeteria, and watching a movie in a theater.
His mom decides to teach him the wiggle dance and other strategies to control his wiggles. It also discusses personal space, using a focus squishy, and not talking while others are speaking.
Here’s another great book companion lesson to use with this classroom favorite.
The Bad Seed by Jory John
The story revolves around a seed, who believes he is inherently "bad." With a grumpy attitude and a liking for making poor choices, the bad seed is shunned by his fellow seeds and finds himself isolated from the rest of the group.
Jory John's choice of a seed as the main character brilliantly communicates the idea that change and transformation can happen from the smallest beginnings.
This book really resonates with students who come from less-than-positive backgrounds or just need a reminder to look for the positives around themselves every day.
What if Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
This story is about a boy who chooses to make poor choices such as being rude in a restaurant, speaking out of turn, and littering. Everyone the boy meets asks him, “What if everybody did that?”. Hearing this question over and over again makes the boy start to
think about what really would happen if everyone chose to do things like he was, and he realizes that he has been wrong.
The story ends on a positive note as he comes home and hugs his mom while thinking “What if everybody did that?” and decides that the world would be a better place if everyone made that decision.
Video
Three silly puppets with Socratica Kids help kids learn the secrets to being good students.
They encourage students with basic tips like eating a good breakfast, listening to the teacher, using an inside voice, and more. Little ones especially are sure to love learning from this engaging trio!
Encouraging positive behavior in the classroom CAN be done using these strategies and resources. You have the power to inspire positivity and a successful learning environment for your students that will go with them well beyond your classroom walls and year with them!
You might also be interested in reading:
Creating a Calm Corner in Your Classroom
Children's Books that Teach Mindfulness
You might also be interested in these products:
Keys to Resolving Conflict - Conflict Resolution Activity
Divorce and Family Separation workbook
Amazon List: Books on Behavior
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