In this blog post, from Abby from Mrs. Moe’s Modifications, we’re diving into 20 tried-and-true positive behavior intervention strategies that will help you create a positive, productive learning environment. These behavior intervention strategies and techniques aren’t just theoretical—they’re practical, easy to implement, and designed to make your life as a teacher a little easier. So, if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by challenging behaviors or just want to refresh your approach, you’re in the right place. Let’s equip you with the tools you need to turn your classroom into a space where learning and respect thrive.
Behavior-specific praise is one of the most powerful tools in a teacher’s back pocket. Behavior-specific praise targets exactly what the student did right, reinforcing the behavior you want to see more of. This is not to say that simply saying “good job” is a bad thing, it is just taking it and turning it up a notch. This will help see actual behavior change.
Here’s how you can make the most of behavior intervention strategies:
This may sound simple, but it helps to be laser focused on labeling the appropriate behaviors that you want to see more of. Maybe the student wrote their name and then immediately started talking to their peer. If you just said good job you could reinforce that talking. However, if you just reprimanded them then you could harm the relationship, and honestly it isn’t fun to constantly be reprimanding kids.
Behavioral momentum is such an easy intervention that can be used not only with your students, but also with yourself! This is one of my favorite behavior intervention strategies!
Behavioral momentum is a technique that leverages the power of success to encourage students to tackle more challenging tasks. The idea is simple: by starting with easy, high-probability requests that a student is likely to comply with, you build a “momentum” of success that carries them through more difficult tasks.
Behavior contracts are a collaborative way to set clear expectations and create accountability for both students and teachers. By putting agreements in writing, students know exactly what is expected of them and they are motivated by the clear rewards and consequences outlined in the contract. It also holds teachers accountable to provide reinforcement and to talk with the student about behavior expectations, positive and negative behaviors. Behavior contracts or charts can work for older and younger students. The way they look will just be different. Hope you are finding some practical and positive behavior intervention strategies to use in your classroom this week!
Token economies are a dynamic and effective way to reinforce positive behavior in the classroom by turning good behavior into something tangible and rewarding. This strategy uses tokens—such as stickers, points, or chips—that students can earn for displaying desired behaviors and then exchange for rewards.
It is always important to listen to Autistic voices in the community. Many have voiced concerns about the use of token economies because many use them as a way to enforce compliance. Therefore, I want you to be sure you are using it for positive behavior change to help the student be successful and not to simply be compliant in the classroom.
Token economies not only motivate students to engage in positive behaviors but also teach valuable lessons in delayed gratification, goal-setting, and responsibility. When implemented effectively, a token economy can transform your classroom into a thriving, positive learning environment. Hope this has helped you get more ideas for behavior intervention strategies that you can be using!
Teaching replacement behaviors is a proactive strategy that focuses on giving students the tools they need to meet their needs in a more appropriate way. To me, it is the gold standard in interventions. Without this strategy, you can offer as much reinforcement but it still may never get you to the desired behavior because students need to be TAUGHT the behavior. Instead of just trying to eliminate problem behaviors, this approach identifies the underlying reasons for those behaviors and teaches alternative actions that serve the same purpose.
Teaching replacement behaviors is an empowering strategy that not only reduces negative behaviors but also equips students with positive, socially acceptable ways to meet their needs. This approach fosters a more supportive and inclusive classroom environment, helping students learn self-regulation and build essential life skills.
When you reinforce behavior it means that you are making the behavior more likely to occur in the future. This means that you can reinforce any type of behaviors. Sometimes you may inadvertnly reinforce a problem behavior at times. It is also important to know that reinforcement and rewards, although similar play a very different role in regards to their effect on behavior.
Effective reinforcement not only encourages positive behavior but also helps build students’ self-esteem and motivation. By consistently recognizing and rewarding desirable behaviors, you create a positive classroom environment where students feel valued and are motivated to continue their good work. Hope you are finding some practical and positive behavior intervention strategies to use in your classroom this week!
Wrap Around Meetings are a collaborative approach designed to support students by involving all key stakeholders in their educational and behavioral development. This strategy ensures a comprehensive support system by bringing together teachers, family members, and other professionals to create and implement a tailored plan for the student. It is important to note that these are not going to happen for every student. This is most likely for your most involved students. This additional support is to help work with the child across all the environments in their life. Hope this has helped you get more ideas for behavior intervention strategies that you can be using!
Wrap Around Meetings are an effective way to provide a unified, supportive approach to student development. By coordinating efforts and leveraging the collective expertise of a dedicated team, you can create a responsive support system that addresses the student’s needs in a comprehensive manner. You will develop relationships with families so they feel supported as well.
The Check In Check Out (CICO) strategy is another positive, structured approach to help students who need additional support to stay on track with their behavior goals. It is similar to using a behavior contract or chart. This intervention provides regular feedback and reinforcement, helping students stay engaged and accountable throughout the day. Hope this has helped you get more ideas for behavior intervention strategies that you can be using!
Check In Check Out is an effective, positive behavior support for students who need extra support to stay focused and engaged, but doesn’t need something super intensive. By providing consistent feedback and reinforcement, you help students build positive habits and improve their behavior and academic performance, creating a more supportive and structured learning environment.
Self-monitoring is a strategy that empowers students to take responsibility for their own behavior and performance. This is typically used with older students. By teaching students to track their actions and progress, you help them develop self-awareness, self-regulation, and accountability. It can be very empowering for students and helps to take a little bit off of your plate.
Self-monitoring helps students develop important skills for independence. By providing the tools and support they need to track their own progress, you foster a sense of ownership over their learning and behavior, leading to improved outcomes and a more engaged classroom experience. Hope you are finding some practical and positive behavior intervention strategies to use in your classroom this week!
Providing choice in the classroom is a powerful strategy that increases student engagement and motivation by giving them a sense of control over their learning and behavior. When students have a say in certain aspects of their classroom experience, they are more likely to feel invested and committed. Think about a child’s day for a minute. They are told what to do from the moment they get up until the moment they go to bed. What if that was you? Yes they are kids who need to have adult direction, but they are also human. We wouldn’t like that- which is why providing choice allows them to have controlled independence over their day.
Visual supports are essential tools that help students understand expectations, routines, and concepts by providing clear, visual cues. These are great because they are proactive supports, which means they help stop behavior before it happens. These supports can be especially helpful for students who struggle with verbal instructions or need additional structure to stay on task.
Visual supports make abstract concepts and expectations more concrete, helping students better understand and follow classroom routines. By incorporating visual cues, schedules, and reminders, you create a more accessible and structured learning environment that can greatly benefit all students, particularly those who need extra guidance. These can prompt students without you having to say a word. Hope this has helped you get more ideas for behavior intervention strategies that you can be using!
Sensory breaks are short, planned opportunities for students to engage in activities that help them regulate their sensory needs. These breaks can help students who become overwhelmed, distracted, or restless during the school day to reset and refocus. This is something that should be used as a preventative strategy in most cases. It is also something that should be done as a team approach. Your occupational and physical therapist are going to be your go to’s in getting the right sensory breaks for students. Some will need heavy work, others will need something that is calming and others may need something totally different!
Sensory breaks are an essential tool for helping students manage their sensory needs and maintain focus throughout the day. By providing these breaks, you create a more inclusive and supportive classroom environment where all students can thrive. Hope you are finding some practical and positive behavior intervention strategies to use in your classroom this week!
Building strong, positive relationships with your students is one of the most powerful strategies for improving behavior and creating a supportive classroom environment. When students feel valued and understood, they are more likely to engage in positive behaviors and participate fully in their learning. But it can be incredibly frustrating when you are dealing with behavior challenges and someone tells you to build the relationship without specific ideas on how to do just that.
By investing time and effort into relationship building, you create a classroom culture where students feel safe, respected, and connected. These strong relationships are the foundation for effective behavior management and academic success.
The classroom environment plays a crucial role in student behavior and learning. Good new that you can make a few environmental modifications, and you can create a space that promotes focus, reduces stress, and accommodates the diverse needs of your students.
By making these environmental modifications, you create a classroom that is more conducive to learning and supports positive behavior. A well-designed environment can help prevent behavioral issues before they start and support all students in feeling safe and ready to learn. We both know this isn’t going to stop all problem behavior, but doing these little things add up to big changes for your students. Hope this has helped you get more ideas for behavior intervention strategies that you can be using!
Non-verbal signals are a powerful and subtle way to communicate with students without interrupting the flow of a lesson. These are great for students who struggle to process verbal language or who need to feel connected to the class (aka build up that relationship). Although you probably have a specific student in mind these are just good universal supports that will help in any classroom. These signals can help manage behavior, provide directions, or offer support in a quiet and effective manner.
Non-verbal signals are an effective way to manage behavior discreetly while maintaining the flow of instruction. They allow for smooth, quiet communication with students, fostering a more controlled and positive classroom environment. Hope you are finding some practical and positive behavior intervention strategies to use in your classroom this week!
Proximity is one of the simplest yet most effective behavior management strategies. By using your physical presence in the classroom, you can influence student behavior without saying a word. It’s about positioning yourself strategically to prevent disruptions, encourage focus, and maintain a positive classroom atmosphere. It is something that you can do without even interrupting your lesson.
Tapping into students’ personal interests is a highly effective way to increase engagement, motivation, and positive behavior in the classroom. When you connect learning or behavioral expectations to something a student is passionate about, they’re more likely to participate enthusiastically.
By integrating students’ personal interests into your teaching and behavior management strategies, you create a more engaging and inclusive classroom environment that supports both academic success and positive behavior. Hope this has helped you get more ideas for behavior intervention strategies that you can be using!
Many times, challenging behaviors in the classroom stem from frustration or a lack of engagement with the academic material. Adjusting the way you present and structure academic content can help students feel more successful and reduce negative behaviors. But how do you do that? It can be harder than you may think because we have standards and curriculum. But here are some ways you can alter academics to help reduce problem behaviors.
Changing the academic approach can remove barriers to learning and reduce behaviors linked to frustration or disengagement. By making tasks more accessible and tailored to individual needs, you can create a more supportive and productive learning environment. It is also great because it is not something that will change your whole classroom up, and allows you to do what you still need to do- teach! Hope this has helped you get more ideas for behavior intervention strategies that you can be using!
Peer mentoring is a powerful strategy that pairs students to support each other, which can help students see achievement both academically and behaviorally. This approach not only fosters collaboration but also builds leadership and social skills among students. When implemented well, peer mentoring can positively influence behavior, increase engagement, and create a stronger sense of community in the classroom. Both the mentor and mentee can learn from each other and grow together.
By incorporating peer mentoring into your classroom, you provide students with opportunities to learn from one another, while fostering a supportive and cooperative environment. Both the mentor and the mentee can benefit from improved social skills, academic achievement, and positive behavior.
Check and Connect is a proactive, relationship-based intervention designed to help students who engage in problem behaviors, have trouble connecting, or need a bit of additional support from outside the classroom. By regularly checking in with students and connecting them to supportive adults, this strategy can improve academic outcomes and reduce problem behaviors. Having just one positive adult connection can make all the different in the world.
By using the Check and Connect strategy, teachers can help students stay engaged, address behavioral challenges early, and create a supportive environment where students feel empowered to succeed. Hope this has helped you get more ideas for behavior intervention strategies that you can be using!
Positive behavior strategies in the classroom is no easy task, but with the right strategies in place, it becomes much more manageable—and even rewarding. The 20 behavior intervention strategies outlined here provide a wide range of tools that you can tailor to meet the unique needs of your students. From fostering strong relationships and using positive reinforcement to creating a supportive environment and engaging students through their interests, these approaches work together to promote a positive, structured learning atmosphere.
Remember, behavior management is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about finding what works best for your classroom and each individual student. Implement these positive behavior intervention strategies and supports consistently, stay flexible, and watch as your classroom transforms into a more harmonious and productive space for learning.
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