Academic and Behavioral Interventions

Are you looking for ways to encourage students to behave appropriately while moving with groups? If so, keep reading.

1. Give the student an easily grasped list of consequences for unacceptable behavior when moving with a group.

2. Show/model for the student moving properly with a group.

3. Assess the appropriateness of the expectation of moving with a group to 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.

4. Converse with the student to explain (a) what they are doing wrong (e.g., running, pushing peers, etc.) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., walking without touching peers).

5. Create rules for moving properly with a group: • Walk in the halls. • Go directly from one area to another. • Talk quietly in the halls. • Walk on the right side of the hall. • Utilize an appropriate pathway. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.

6. State clearly the manner in which you expect the student to act before going out in public or to a place where they have never been before.

7. Separate the line regularly to enable the student’s success when moving with a group.

8. Get the students to walk in pairs when moving as a group.

9. Separate the student from the peer who stimulates their unacceptable behavior.

10. Form a second line or group for those students who move at a slower pace.

11. Write a contract with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., walking properly in a group) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

12. Inform the student before leaving the classroom of the rules for walking in a group (e.g., walk behind the person in front of you, keep hands to yourself, walk quietly, 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.

Are you looking for strategies to teach students to behave appropriately while moving with groups? If so, keep reading.

1. 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 moving properly with a group at school.

2. Let logical consequences happen as a result of the student’s unacceptable behavior(e.g., excessive physical contact may cause people to remain away from the student or may result in pushing, shoving, etc.).

3. Get the student to be a line leader, line monitor, etc., when moving with a group.

4. State clearly the expectations for appropriate behavior when moving with a group.

5. Select a peer to model appropriate movement with a group for the student.

6. Praise the student for demonstrating appropriate behavior when moving with a group: (a) give the student a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, etc.) or (b) give the student an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

7. Praise those students who demonstrate appropriate behavior when moving with a group.

8. Praise the student for moving properly with a group 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. Get the student to walk with arms crossed, against their side, hands in pockets, etc., if touching others is a problem.

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

11. Praise the student for walking at the same pace as other students when moving with a group.

12. Get the student to walk alone, behind the group, beside the teacher, etc., when they display unacceptable behavior when moving with a group.

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.

Are you looking for hacks to motivate students to be prepared for learning experiences? If so, keep reading.

1. Gather anecdotal information on the student’s tardy behavior. If a trend can be determined, remove the student from the situation and/or help the student be encouraged.

2. Make sure the student is properly placed according to their capacity and ability level in those classes in which they are enrolled.

3. Minimize the emphasis on competition. Repeated failure may cause the student to avoid being on time for learning activities that are competitive.

4. Teach the student how to use a calendar to acknowledge upcoming learning activities that are not part of the daily routine (schedule) (e.g., Tuesday at 12:00, field trip to the zoo, etc.).

5. Provide instructions in a compassionate rather than a menacing manner (e.g., “Please come to your reading group now.” rather than “You had better come to your reading group or else!” etc.).

6. Provide the student a special responsibility before the group meets (e.g., sharpening pencils, arranging chairs, passing out books, etc.).

7. Utilize a timer to help the student know how much time they have to follow through with instructions.

8. Always treat the student with the utmost respect. Talk objectively at all times.

9. Do not embarrass the student by giving them orders, requirements, etc., in front of others.

10. Make sure the student knows how to tell time and has a comprehension of their daily routine (schedule).

11. Give the student a schedule of activities for the day to keep at their desk. Make notes of any special learning materials needed for a learning experience.

12. Make sure the student has a working watch or clock available to encourage them to start a learning experience.

13. Along with instruction, give an incentive statement (e.g., “On occasions where you come to your reading group, you may pass out the books.” “Please come to your reading group early to help arrange the chairs.” etc.).

14. Let logical consequences happen as a result of the student’s failure to be ready for a learning experience at a specific time (e.g., miss a school assembly, miss the bus, late for class, etc.).

15. Teach the student organizational skills (e.g., before leaving the classroom, make sure learning materials are put away; bring all the appropriate learning materials; arrive five minutes early; etc.).

16. Teach the student to use a pocket calendar to record specific times, places, and learning activities that need to be remembered.

17. Consider using an education app to help the student sharpen their organizational skills. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Are you looking for strategies to encourage students to be prepared for learning experiences? If so, keep reading.

1. Ascertain why the student is not ready for learning activities at a specific time.

2. Ask the student why they are not ready for learning activities at a specific time. The student may have the most accurate perception as to why they are not ready for learning activities at a specific time.

3. Assist the student in understanding that it is permissible to leave work unfinished and return to it at a later time.

4. Get the student to document their attendance at the end of each learning experience.

5. Ascertain if there are aspects of learning activities that the student dislikes. Remove, lessen, or modify the unpleasant aspects of learning activities to urge the student to be ready for and take part in learning activities.

6. Make the student responsible for time missed (e.g., if the student misses five minutes of a learning experience, they must make up the time during recess, lunch, or other desired learning activities ).

7. Give the student a schedule of daily activities so that they will know what learning activities to attend and their times.

8. Make sure that the student is successful in school-related and social learning activities. The student will be more likely to be ready for learning activities in which they experience success.

9. Provide the student a schedule of classes that must be signed by every instructor to document their promptness.

10. Make sure that other students do not make it unpleasant for the student to attend learning activities.

11. Make sure the student has all the appropriate learning materials for learning activities.

12. Record promptness with the student.

13. Begin learning activities with a task that is highly reinforcing to the student.

14. Assess appropriateness of the level of difficulty of tasks in comparison with the student’s capacity and ability.

15. Give the student many chances for high interest learning activities as possible.

16. Give the student academic learning activities in the most attractive manner possible.

17. Make the student a leader of the learning experience or group.

18. Consider using an education app to help the student sharpen their organizational skills. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Are you looking for strategies to teach students to be prepared for learning experiences? If so, keep reading.

1. Praise the student for being ready for a learning experience at a specific time: (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., coming late/early to a learning experience) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., arriving at a learning experience at a specific time).

3. Create classroom rules: • Come to class on time. • 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. Select a peer to model being ready for a learning experience at a specific time for the student.

5. Praise the student for arriving at a learning experience within a given period. As the student becomes more successful in being punctual, slowly lessen the duration of time the student has to take part in a learning experience.

6. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., coming to class on time, having appropriate learning materials, etc.) 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 being ready for learning activities at a specific time at school.

8. Assess the appropriateness of the task to 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.

9. Provide the student a specific responsibility to be performed at the beginning of each learning experience to urge them to be on time.

10. Select a peer to escort the student to learning activities.

11. Make sure that the student’s daily schedule follows an established routine (schedule).

12. Restrict the number of interruptions in the student’s schedule.

13. Make sure the student has sufficient time to get to a learning experience.

14. Make sure that the student knows how to get from one learning experience to another.

15. Utilize a timer to help the student get to learning activities at specific times.

16. Praise those students in the classroom who are ready for all learning experiences at a specific time.

17. Give the student oral signals when it is time to change learning activities (e.g., “It is time for the red group to have reading.” “Now it is time for the red group to put away learning materials and move to the next learning experience.” etc.).

18. Consider using an education app to help the student sharpen their organizational skills. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

Are you looking for hacks to encourage students not to leave their seat without permission? If so, keep reading.

1. Create times when it is permissible for the student to be out of their seat (e.g., leave their seat only to get a book, only after obtaining permission, etc.).

2. Give the student a predetermined signal when they begin to leave their seat.

3. Make sure that reinforcement is not provided for unacceptable behavior(e.g., paying attention to the student only when they leave their seat).

4. Be proactive. Work with the school counselor to design a schedule conducive to the student’s success (e.g., have physical education scheduled the last period of the day, intersperse electives that allow greater freedom of movement with classes requiring expanded periods of concentration, etc.).

5. Refrain from placing the student in situations that require sitting for an expanded duration of time such as lectures, seminars, assemblies, etc. Give the information for the student through a recording or lecture notes.

6. Assess the visual and auditory stimuli in the classroom. Determine the number of stimuli the student can tolerate. Remove unnecessary stimuli from their surroundings.

7. Talk regularly with the student to prevent the student from leaving their seat.

8. Assess the appropriateness of tasks to ascertain (a) if the tasks are too easy, (b) if the tasks are too complicated, and (c) if the duration of time scheduled for the tasks is sufficient.

9. Be firm, fair, and consistent, expecting the student to remain seated. Do not let them get up and walk around one time and expect them to remain seated the next time.

10. Talk about your concerns regarding the student’s attention span and failure to remain seated with their family, a school official, etc., if it is interfering with their progress at school.

11. Get the student to perform one task at a time. Provide the student the chance for movement between learning activities.

12. Solidify on-task behavior by providing a full schedule of daily activities. Stop lag time from happening when the student would be free to leave their seat.

13. Teach the student to use techniques such as crossing their arms and legs, clinching their fists, and webbing their hands when they feel the urge to leave their seat.

14. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., staying in their seat) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

15. Provide visibility to and from the student to keep their attention when oral questions/instructions are being delivered. The teacher and the student should be able to see each other at all times. Make eye contact possible at all times.

16. Connect with the student’s cooperative work experience/vocational education teacher to place the student on a job site allowing a high degree of physical movement.

17. Restrict the amount of time you expect the student to be seated to perform tasks and tasks. Do not initially give them things to do that take more than 10–15 minutes to finish.

18. Find the situations in which the student is most likely to participate in unacceptable behavior and fail to remain seated. After you have identified these situations, think of ways to minimize their occurrence.

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

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

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

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

Are you looking for ways to encourage students not to leave their seat without permission ? If so, keep reading.

1. Plan short learning activities for the student to perform while seated. As the student shows success staying in their seat, slowly increase the length of the learning activities.

2. Provide the student with frequent chances to leave their seat for appropriate reasons (e.g., getting learning materials, running errands, assisting the teacher, etc.).

3. Talk with the student to explain(a) what they are doing wrong (e.g., leaving seat without permission, etc.) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., remaining in their seat, asking permission to leave their seat, etc.).

4. 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.

5. Make sure that the expectation for the student to remain seated is appropriate for their level of development and capacity and ability.

6. Urge the student to remind himself/herself to wait when they feel the urge to get out of their seat (e.g., “Stop. Count to 10.”).

7. Urge the student to self-monitor their behavior to decrease the need for teacher intervention to remain seated.

8. Talk regularly with the student to, keep their attention to the learning experience (e.g., ask the student questions, ask the student’s opinions, stand near the student, seat the student near the teacher’s desk, etc.).

9. Inform the student when needed to remain their seat.

10. Praise the student for staying in their seat: (a) give the student a concrete reward (e.g., classroom privileges, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the student an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

11. Urge the student to take part in high energy learning activities after school that let them release excess energy (e.g., racquetball, soccer, etc.).

12. Give the student frequent chances to participate, take a turn, etc., to keep them involved in a learning experience.

13. Stop the student from becoming overstimulated by a learning experience(e.g., frustrated, angry, excited, etc.).

14. Place the student near the teacher.

15. Separate the student from the peer who stimulates their unacceptable behavior.

16. Give the student the most attractive and exciting learning activities possible.

17. Give the student a calm, quiet environment in which to work.

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.

Are you looking for strategies to encourage students not to leave their seat without permission? If so, keep reading.

1. Connect with the student’s parents to disseminate information about the student’s appropriate behavior. The parents may reinforce the student at home for staying in their seat at school.

2. Allow the student a break while working on monotonous tasks to relieve restlessness and improve concentration.

3. Urge the student to say a mantra to themselves when entering a situation in which they have to sit for an expanded duration of time (e.g., be still, be still, be still).

4. Get the student to chart the duration of time they can remain in their seat.

5. Make sure the student knows when it is acceptable to leave their seat (e.g., in an emergency).

6. Make sure the student has all the appropriate learning materials assembled prior to beginning a project, task, etc., to lessen the need to leave their seat.

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

8. Get the student to question any directions, explanations, or instructions they do not understand.

9. Allow some time for movement between tasks if the student appears to need a break.

10. Attempt several groupings in the classroom to ascertain the situation in which the student is most comfortable and remains seated without constant supervision.

11. Make the appropriate adjustments in their surroundings to prevent the student from experiencing stress, frustration, anger, etc., as much as possible, to decrease the student’s tendency to leave their seat.

12. Praise those students in the classroom who remain in their seats and ask permission to leave their seats.

13. Praise the student for staying in their seat based on the duration of time they can be successful. As the student shows success, slowly increase the duration of time required for reinforcement.

14. Take the student away from the learning experience until they can remain their seat.

15. Give the student an easily grasped list of consequences for unacceptable behavior.

16. Minimize the emphasis on competition. Competitive learning activities may cause the student to become overstimulated and leave their seat.

17. Select a peer to model staying in their seat for the student.

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.

Are you looking for ways to encourage students not to talk during quiet time? If so, keep reading.

1. Make the appropriate adjustments in their surroundings to prevent the student from experiencing stress, frustration, and anger.

2. Talk regularly with the student to lessen the need for them to talk to other students.

3. Provide visibility to and from the student to keep their attention when oral questions/instructions are being delivered. The teacher and the student should be able to see each other at all times. Make eye contact possible at all times.

4. Assess the appropriateness of the social situation concerning the student’s capacity and ability to function successfully.

5. Attempt several groupings to ascertain the situation in which the student is most comfortable.

6. Praise the student for raising their hand to be recognized.

7. Ask the student a question when they are most likely to be able to respond correctly (e.g., when discussing something in which the student is interested, when the teacher is sure they know the answer, etc.).

8. Teach the student to recognize when to speak, to know how much to say, and to make appropriate remarks (e.g., brief remarks, remarks within the context of the situation, remarks that are a follow-up to what has just been said, etc.).

9. Get the student to work in small groups in which they would have frequent chances to speak. As the student learns to wait longer for their turn to speak, slowly increase the size of the group.

10. Make sure that the student’s feelings are considered when it is appropriate to deal with their talking to other students (i.e., handle remarks in such a way as to not diminish the student’s enthusiasm for participation).

11. Urge the student to model the behavior of peers who are successful at not talking to others during quiet activity periods.

12. Assist the student in improving concentration skills (e.g., listening to the speaker, taking notes, preparing remarks in advance, making remarks in an appropriate context, etc.).

13. Get the student to question any directions, explanations, or instructions they do not understand prior to asking other students for information.

14. Provide directions, explanations, and instructions in a clear, concise manner to lessen the student’s need to ask other students for information.

15. Provide a predetermined signal (e.g., hand signal, oral signal, etc.) if the student talks to others during quiet activity periods.

16. After telling the student why they should not be talking, explain the reason.

17. Do not provide too much free time for the student.

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.

Are you looking for strategies to teach students not to talk during quiet time? If so, keep reading.

1. Praise the student for working quietly: (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 the student is doing wrong (e.g., talking to others during quiet activity periods) and (b) what the student should be doing (e.g., waiting until it is appropriate to speak, working quietly, 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 work quietly during learning experience periods.

5. Praise the student for working quietly 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. 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., working quietly) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

8. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the student’s appropriate behavior. The parents may reinforce the student at home for working quietly at school.

9. Get the student to be the leader of a cooperative learning experience if they possess a mastery of skills or an interest in that area.

10. Assess the appropriateness of the task to 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.

11. Make sure that reinforcement is not provided for unacceptable behavior(e.g., making unacceptable remarks, talking to others during quiet activity periods, etc.).

12. Provide the student sufficient chances to speak in the classroom, talk to other students, etc. (i.e., enthusiastic students need many chances to contribute).

13. Provide a predetermined signal (e.g., hand signal, oral signal, etc.) when the student begins to talk to other students during quiet time.

14. Show the student that they may be trying too hard to fit in and that they should relax, talk less, and talk at appropriate times.

15. Organize the student’s surroundings to limit chances for talking to other students during quiet activity periods (e.g., keep the student engaged in learning activities, have the student seated near the teacher, etc.).

16. Provide the student with duties in the classroom (e.g., running errands, chances to help the teacher, etc.).

17. Minimize learning activities that might be menacing to the student (e.g., announcing test score ranges or test scores aloud, making students read aloud in class, emphasizing the success of particular students, etc.).

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

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

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

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

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