Academic and Behavioral Interventions

Are you looking for strategies to teach students to follow school rules? If so, keep reading.

1. Be a consistent authority figure (e.g., be consistent in relationship with the student).

2. Connect with the student’s parents to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for following school rules.

3. Select a peer to model following school rules for the student.

4. Organize their surroundings so that the student remains active and involved.

5. Intervene early and often when there is a problem to prevent a more severe problem from happening.

6. Talk with the school psychologist about the student’s failure to consider the consequences of their behavior.

7. Make sure the student is actively involved in their surroundings (i.e., give the student duties, learning activities, and errands to run to promote purposeful behavior).

8. Teach yourself and others about ADHD to increase comprehension and accommodation of impulsive behavior.

9. Urge the student to develop an understanding of the consequences of their behavior by writing down or talking through problems that may happen due to their failure to adjust their behavior to various situations (e.g., perceived as unmannerly, avoided, etc.).

10. Teach the student about ADHD and the need for developing skills to self-monitor behavior.

11. Urge the student to pause and consider their thoughts before acting on them.

12. Give constant, positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior. Ignore as many unacceptable behaviors as possible.

13. Get the student to make a list of consequences associated with regularly occurring behaviors (e.g., by disrupting others, I will be perceived as unmannerly. By behaving aggressively, I will cause people to avoid me.).

14. Teach the student to think before acting (e.g., they should ask themselves, “What is happening?” “What am I doing?” “What should I do?” “What will be best for me?”).

15. Make sure that rules and behavior expectations are consistent in the classroom and throughout the school.

16. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

17. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

18. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

19. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.

Are you looking for ways to teach students to respond appropriately to redirection? If so, keep reading.

1. To lessen the need for redirection in academic situations, require the student to check all work for errors prior to handing in tasks.

2. Make sure that redirection in academic and social situations is delivered in the most positive manner possible.

3. Get the student to rephrase the instructions to make sure the student understands the task or learning experience.

4. Praise those students in the classroom who respond properly to redirection in academic and social situations.

5. 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 responding properly to redirection in academic and social situations at school.

6. Make sure that the student knows that redirection is designed to help them succeed rather than as a form of punishment (e.g., use statements such as, “This sentence would be much easier to read if it were written with correct capitalization and punctuation. Please write it again, and I’ll check it for you.”).

7. Praise the student for responding properly to redirection in academic and social situations: (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.).

8. Converse with the student to explain (a) what the student is doing wrong (e.g., not correcting errors on an task, failing to return to seat when told to do so, etc.) and (b) what the student should be doing (e.g., correcting errors on a task, returning to seat when told to do so, etc.).

9. Get the student to question any directions, explanations, instructions not grasped.

10. Take the student away from the learning experience if they fail to respond properly to redirection in academic and social situations.

11. On occasions where redirection is delivered to the student in academic situations, make sure that an explanation for the redirection is also given (e.g., “You need to return to your seat because we are ready to begin a new learning experience.”).

12. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., returning to seat when told to do so) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

13. Observe the student’s behavior to give redirection before the student’s errors or unacceptable behavior exceeds their capacity and ability to respond appropriately.

14. Give sufficient time for the student to respond properly to redirection in academic and social situations.

15. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

16. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

17. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

18. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.

Are you looking for strategies to help students to respond appropriately to redirection? If so, keep reading.

1. Praise those students in the classroom who respond properly to redirection in academic and social situations.

2. Make sure that communications with the student regarding redirection are appropriate to the student’s capacity and ability to respond (e.g., match the form in which redirection is delivered to the student’s most likely successful response, such as “Would you please go to your seat” rather than “You need to go to your seat immediately.”).

3. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.

4. Let logical consequences happen when the student fails to respond properly to redirection in academic and social situations (e.g., make highly reinforcing learning activities contingent upon responding properly to redirection in academic and social situations).

5. Do not criticize when correcting the student; be honest yet compassionate. Never cause the student to feel bad about themselves.

6. Support the student in responding properly to redirection in academic situations (e.g., help the student correct one or two things to get them started).

7. Provide instructions concisely.

8. Focus expectations for student response to redirection in academic situations on capacity and ability level (e.g., one student may be expected to return to their seat immediately upon redirection while another student may be given three minutes to respond appropriately).

9. Make sure that a learning experience does not overstimulate and result in the student’s failure to respond properly to redirection in academic situations.

10. Be firm, fair, and consistent with expectations when redirecting the student in academic situations (e.g., require the student to immediately correct errors after work has been reviewed, require the student to return to their seat within three minutes, etc.).

11. Select a peer to model responding properly to redirection in academic and social situations for the student.

12. Provide redirection to the student as privately as possible.

13. Praise the student for responding properly to redirection within a given duration of time based on the number of times the student can be successful. As the student shows success, slowly increase the number of times required for reinforcement.

14. Ascertain the reason for errors made by the student.

15. Create subsequent tasks based on errors the student makes rather than requiring an instant correction of work done incorrectly.

16. Assess the appropriateness of the taskto ascertain if (a) the task is too easy, (b) the task is too complicated, and (c) the duration of time scheduled to finish the task is sufficient.

17. Do not let redirection become an appropriate part of every academic situation in which the student participates.

18. Assess the requirements made on the student in academic situations to make sure that all expectations are within the student’s capacity and ability level.

19. Make sure that attention is not inadvertently given to the student for failing to respond properly to redirection in academic and social situations (i.e., remove attention from the student if the attention is reinforcing their unacceptable behavior).

20. Refrain from those circumstances where the student shows difficulty in responding properly to redirection in academic situations (e.g., highly competitive situations, situations in which the student is embarrassed by their errors, etc.).

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.

Are you looking for ways to teach students not to bring inappropriate items to school? If so, keep reading.

1. Designate the student learning activities that would require interactions with a respected role model (e.g., older student, high school student, college student, community leader, someone held in esteem, etc.).

2. Give the student intelligent, accurate information about drugs and alcohol rather than using sensationalized scare tactics.

3. Give many chances for social and academic success.

4. Urge the student to excel in a particular area of interest (e.g., give information to the student, give personal and professional support, sponsor the student, etc.).

5. Provide frequent contact with the student during school hours (e.g., follow up on details of earlier communications, keep a direction for conversation, etc.).

6. Lead and direct the student. Do not lecture and make requirements.

7. On occasions where logical consequences from peers happen (e.g., criticism, loss of friendship, etc.) because of the use of drugs or alcohol at school, bring the consequences to the attention of the student.

8. Connect with parents, agencies, or appropriate parties to inform them of the problem, identify the cause of the problem, and discuss potential solutions to the problem.

9. Be a resource for parents by providing information on agencies, counseling programs, etc.

10. Minimize the emphasis on competition and help the student realize that success is individually defined.

11. Provide sufficient supervision at all times and in all areas of the school (e.g., hallways, bathrooms, between classes, before and after school, school grounds, etc.).

12. Be willing to take the time to listen, share, and talk with the student.

13. Boost your own professional knowledge of laws and treatment about drug or alcohol use and abuse.

14. Provide anecdotal records of the student’s behavior to check patterns or changes in behavior.

15. Give appropriate reading content (e.g., magazines, novels, etc.) at school that is of interest to the student, so that they will not bring unacceptable reading content to school.

16. Teach the student to be happy with their best effort rather than perfection.

17. Teach the student alternative ways to deal with requirements, challenges, and pressures of the school experience (e.g., deal with problems when they arise, practice self-control at all times, share problems or concerns with others, etc.).

18. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

19. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

20. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

21. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.

22. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

23. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

24. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Are you looking for strategies to teach students not to bring inappropriate items to school? If so, keep reading.

1. Praise the student for demonstrating appropriate behavior: (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. Talk with the student to explain(a) what they are doing wrong (e.g., bringing unacceptable or illegal learning materials to school) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., following an established code of conduct, following the rules, taking care of duties, etc.).

3. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.

4. Praise those students in the classroom who demonstrate appropriate behavior.

5. Praise the student for demonstrating appropriate behavior based on the duration of time they can be successful. As the student shows success, slowly increase the duration of time required for reinforcement.

6. Take the student away from the learning experience until they can demonstrate appropriate behavior and self-control.

7. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., not bringing alcohol to school) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

8. Connect with parents to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for not bringing unacceptable or illegal learning materials to school.

9. Urge the student’s parents to be positive and compassionate with the student as opposed to being negative and menacing.

10. Provide a drug information program for the individual student, the class, or the student body.

11. Give information on penalties for possession or use of alcohol and drugs at school.

12. Let the student participate in extracurricular learning activities to help them create appropriate interests.

13. Identify individuals the student may contact about their concerns (e.g., guidance counselor, school nurse, social worker, school psychologist, etc.).

14. Convey concerns to the administration and seek a referral to an agency for investigation of alcohol or drug abuse.

15. Urge the student to become involved in athletic or extracurricular learning activities.

16. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

17. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

18. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

19. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.

20. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

21. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

22. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Are you looking for tips for teaching students to follow instructions? If so, keep reading.

1. Teach the student to respect others and their belongings by respecting the student’s belongings.

2. Teach the student to think before acting (e.g., they should ask themselves, “What is happening?” “What am I doing?” “What should I do?” “What will be best for me?”).

3. Let the student voice their opinion in a situation to avoid becoming angry or upset.

4. Assess the appropriateness of the task to ascertain (a) if the task is too easy, (b) if the task is too complicated, or (c) if the duration of time scheduled to finish the task is sufficient.

5. Connect with the parents to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for following instructions from teachers or other school staff members.

6. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., asking for help) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

7. Take the student away from the learning experience until they can demonstrate appropriate behavior and self-control.

8. Praise the student for following the instructions of teachers and other school staff members 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.

9. Praise those students in the classroom who follow instructions from teachers and other school staff members.

10. 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.

11. Talk with the student to explain(a) what the student is doing wrong (e.g., not following instructions from teachers or other school staff members, etc.) and (b) what the student should be doing (e.g., asking for help, calling attention to a problem, etc.).

12. Praise the student for following instructions from teachers or other school staff members: (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.).

13. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

14. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

15. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

16. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.

17. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

18. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

19. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Are you looking for ways to teach students to follow instructions? If so, keep reading.

1. Be a consistent authority figure (e.g., be consistent in relationship with the student).

2. Give the student optional courses of action to prevent total refusal to conform to rules, regulations, expectations, laws, etc. (e.g., return to the classroom).

3. Intervene early and often to prevent the student’s behavior from leading to contagion on the part of other students.

4. Provide instructions in a step-by-step sequence.

5. Select a peer to model following instructions for the student.

6. Talk with the student regularly to ascertain if school rules are being followed.

7. Make sure that all educators keep consistent enforcement of school rules.

8. Let logical consequences happen as a result of the student’s failure to follow instructions from teachers and other school staff members (e.g., tasks are performed incorrectly, detention will be designated, etc.).

9. Restrict the student’s chance to take part in learning activities in which they will not follow instructions from teachers and other school staff members (e.g., recess, industrial arts learning activities, field trips, etc.).

10. Do not let the student be unsupervised anywhere.

11. Along with instructions, give an incentive statement (e.g., “On occasions where you finish your math, you may go outside.” “You may have free time after you finish your work.”).

12. Get the student to orally repeat instructions.

13. Provide instructions in a compassionate rather than a menacing manner (e.g., “Please finish your work.” rather than “You had better finish your work or else!”).

14. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

15. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

16. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. 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.

18. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

19. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

20. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Are you looking for strategies to teach students to follow instructions? If so, keep reading.

1. Organize their surroundings to lessen free or unplanned time that is likely to contribute to the student’s unacceptable behavior.

2. Provide visibility to and from the student. The teacher and the student should be able to see each other at all times. Make eye contact possible at all times.

3. Provide the student a responsibility to be performed at the beginning of each directive.

4. Show the tasks in the most exciting and attractive manner possible.

5. Provide maximum supervision of the student. As the student can successfully follow instructions, slowly decrease supervision.

6. Get the student to keep a chart representing the amount of time spent following teacher instructions, rules, regulations, expectations, etc., with reinforcement for increasing acceptable behavior.

7. Make sure you are regularly in proximity to the student.

8. Give the student many chances for social and academic success.

9. Give the student positive feedback that indicates they are successful.

10. Display rules in several places (e.g., on the student’s desk, in the hallways, etc.).

11. Make sure the student receives the information appropriate to perform learning activities (e.g., written information, oral instructions, reminders, etc.).

12. Teach the student directions/instructions.

13. Maintain a positive and professional relationship with the student (e.g., an adversarial relationship is likely to result in failure to follow instructions).

14. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

15. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

16. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. 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.

18. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

19. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

20. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Are you looking for genius tricks for teaching students to behave appropriately while sitting at their desk? If so, keep reading.

1. Find the situations in which the student is most likely to take part in unacceptable behavior while seated. After you have identified these situations, think of ways to minimize their occurrences.

2. Assess the necessity of having the student sit facing forward, feet on the floor, back straight, etc.

3. Give learning activities that are exciting to the student to keep the student on-task and behaving properly while seated.

4. Urge the student to pay attention to the source of information by keeping eye contact, keeping hands free from other learning materials, and reducing other distractions. This should decrease unacceptable behaviors.

5. Embody for the student appropriate ways to sit in a chair or at a desk.

6. Praise those students in the classroom who sit properly in their seats.

7. Implement logical consequences for students who take part in unacceptable behaviors while seated (e.g., the student will have to sit on the floor, stand next to their desk to work, sit in a chair without a desk, etc.).

8. Connect with the student’s cooperative work experience/vocational education teacher to select a job that allows for a high degree of physical movement (e.g., jobs that let the student be on their feet, move from room to room, have frequent contact with people, and travel from one job site to another, etc.).

9. Get desks and/or chairs that can be fastened to the floor or that are designed to prevent tipping.

10. Put the student in a corner to lessen distracting stimuli that may cause the student to sit improperly in their seat.

11. Organize their surroundings so that the student remains active and involved in appropriate behavior.

12. Utilize logical consequences when the student touches others as they walk by (e.g., move the student to another place in the room, have others walk away from the student, etc.).

13. Allow the student some movement while performing tasks. Observe and limit the amount of movement.

14. Take into account the student’s age before expecting them to sit quietly for a period.

15. Solidify on-task behavior by providing a full schedule of learning activities. Stop lag time from happening when the student would be free to take part in unacceptable behavior.

16. Assess the appropriateness of the taskto ascertain (a) if the task is too easy, (b) if the task is too complicated, and (c) if the duration of time scheduled to finish the task is sufficient.

17. Allow the student some movement while listening to instructions from the teacher. Observe and limit the amount of movement.

18. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

19. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

20. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

21. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.

22. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

23. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

24. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Are you looking for ways to teach students to behave appropriately while sitting at their desk? If so, keep reading.

1. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. • Raise your hand. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.

2. Converse with the student to explain (a) what they are doing wrong (e.g., tipping chair) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., sitting with all chair legs on the floor).

3. Provide a predetermined signal (e.g., give a hand signal, ring a bell, etc.) when the student begins to behave improperly while seated.

4. Talk with the student to let them know what they are doing wrong, what they should be doing, and what the consequences are for unacceptable behavior.

5. Make sure that the chair or desk the student designated is appropriate and/ or comfortable for them (e.g., the desk is not too high, the chair is not too small, etc.).

6. Select various people (e.g., peer, paraprofessional, friend, etc.) to reinforce the student when they sit still.

7. Select a peer who has self-control. Urge the student to observe that person and try to model the behaviors that contribute to self-control.

8. Place the student away from peers to lessen the likelihood that the student will behave improperly while in their seat.

9. Refrain from seating the student near people with whom they may be enticed to converse during assemblies, seminars, group projects, etc.

10. Give the student a specific description of appropriate in-seat behavior (e.g., facing forward, feet on floor, back straight, etc.).

11. Move materials used for tactile stimulation (e.g., pens, paper clips, loose change, etc.) away from the student’s reach.

12. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., behaving properly while seated) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

13. Place the student near the teacher.

14. Explain to the student, after telling them to stop talking, the reason they should not be talking.

15. Remove any learning materials that the student uses to make noise while seated.

16. Do not criticize when correcting the student; be honest yet compassionate. Never cause the student to feel negatively about themselves.

17. Provide consistent expectations for the student to sit properly in their seat.

18. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

19. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

20. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

21. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.

22. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

23. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

24. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.