Are you looking for ways to help students appropriately respond to classroom signals? If so, keep reading.
1. Get the student to observe and mimic the responses of peers to environmental signals to increase success in learning environmental signals . (For example, as the student is learning to respond properly to doors identified as “In” and “Out,” the student can mimic the behavior of peers who use appropriate doors to enter and leave areas of the educational environment.)
2. Praise the student for asking the meaning of environmental signals not grasped (e.g., bells, signs, etc.).
3. Give the student simulation learning activities in the classroom to teach successful responses to environmental signals (e.g., responses to words, symbols, instructions, etc.).
4. Select a peer to escort the student and act as a model in teaching appropriate responses to environmental signals as the student moves throughout the school building.
5. Separate at several points throughout the day (e.g., when the lunch bell rings, when walking by restroom signs, etc.) to point out the various signals to the students.
6. Give the student oral reminders or prompts when they miss an environmental signal.
7. Examine the environmental signals that are essential to the student (e.g., bells, signs, etc.).
8. Utilize vocabulary that is within the student’s level of comprehension when delivering instructions, explanations, and information.
9. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the student’s progress. Parents can reinforce their child at home for responding properly to environmental signals at school.
10. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., responding properly to bells, rules, point cards, reminders, etc.) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.
11. Praise the student for responding properly to environmental signals based on the number of environmental signals the student can successfully follow. As the student shows success, slowly increase the number of appropriate responses to environmental signals required for reinforcement.
12. Praise those students in the classroom who respond properly to environmental signals .
13. Converse with the student to explain (a) what the student is doing wrong (e.g., failing to respond properly to bells, signs indicating restroom instructions, etc.) and (b) what the student should be doing (e.g., responding properly to bells, signs indicating restroom instructions, etc.).
14. Praise the student for responding properly to environmental signals : (a) give the student a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the student an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).
15. Consider using a classroom management app to help the student learn to respond appropriately to classroom signals. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
16. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to respond appropriately to classroom signals. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.
17. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.
