Are you looking for strategies to teach students to exhibit good behavior during group games? If so, keep reading.
1. Praise the student for demonstrating appropriate behavior in group games: (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.).
2. Converse with the student to explain (a) what they are doing wrong (e.g., failing to follow the rules, cheating, etc.) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., following the rules, playing fairly, etc.).
3. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. • Raise your hand. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.
4. Praise those students in the classroom who demonstrate appropriate behavior in group games.
5. Praise the student for demonstrating appropriate behavior in group games based on the duration of time the student can be successful. As the student shows success, slowly increase the duration of time required for reinforcement.
6. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., following the rules) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.
7. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for demonstrating appropriate behavior in group games at school.
8. Assess the appropriateness of the group game to ascertain if the game is too complicated and if the duration of time scheduled to finish the game is sufficient.
9. Select a peer to model appropriate behavior in group games for the student.
10. Get the student to question any directions, explanations, or instructions they do not understand.
11. Assess the expectations for participation in group games to ascertain if the student can be successful in the interaction and for the expected length of time.
12. Let the student select a group of peers with whom they feel comfortable to play group games.
13. Get the student to take part in a game learning experience with one peer. As the student shows success, slowly increase the size of the group.
14. Ascertain the peers with whom the student would most prefer to interact in group games and attempt to enable the interaction.
15. Select outgoing, nonmenacing peers to interact with the student in group games.
16. Organize their surroundings so the student has many chances to interact with peers in group games.
17. Designate the student to interact with younger peers in group games.
18. Select group games in which the student is likely to interact successfully with peers.
19. Organize a sociometric learning experience with the class to ascertain those peers who would most prefer to interact with the student in group games.
20. Make sure that the student shows appropriate behavior in nonacademic situations prior to placing them with peers for group games.
21. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
22. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
23. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.
24. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.
