The concept of reinforcement is fairly simple, but powerful: Behavior followed by pleasant results (for the person behaving) is likely to be repeated in the future.  Using reinforcement to increase appropriate behavior in the classroom is highly effective but requires careful planning and a thoughtful approach. Let's take a closer look at how we can use reinforcement to increase socially appropriate behavior for all students, including those with disabilities.  Since behavior followed by pleasant results (for the person behaving) tends to be repeated, we can think about how to set up this contingency in our classrooms. If we can arrange [...]

Maximizing structure helps make the most of each school day and proactively sets the stage for student success. The ideal environment is one in which students and staff can efficiently and effectively meet their expectations for the day. We’ll take a look at the five components of how to best maximize structure to create an environment conducive to positive classroom outcomes.  Structure in the Classroom  There are three types of structure to maximize in the classroom and in the school:  Physical Structure: Classroom furniture and intentional seating, materials, layout of the building, optimal staff location  Décor: Should reflect academic and [...]

One of the most important aspects of a positive school community is relationships—those between staff and students and between the students themselves. Building strong relationships helps us be proactive and preventative in how we approach student behavior; the better we know our students, the more we know how to help them be successful. Let’s talk about relationships within a school community, why they’re so important to the success of students, and how these relationships can be modeled in day-to-day interactions. Student-Staff Relationships Relationships between staff and students are at the core of a school’s community and culture. In fact, research [...]