The practice guide Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom offers five recommendations to help elementary school educators as well as school and district administrators develop and implement effective prevention and intervention strategies that promote positive student behavior in kindergarten through 5th grades.

Two of these recommendations are supported by a strong level of evidence:

Address the Classroom Environment

View recommendation 2 to learn ways to modify the classroom environment to alter or remove factors that trigger problem behaviors. Strategies include:

• Revisit, re-practice, and reinforce classroom behavior expectations.
• Modify the classroom environment to encourage instructional momentum.
• Adapt or vary instructional strategies to increase opportunities for academic success and engagement.

Build Alternatives

View recommendation 3 to teach and reinforce socially and behaviorally appropriate skills, decrease problem behaviors, and foster a positive classroom climate. The steps to implement this recommendation are:

• Identify where the student needs explicit instruction for appropriate behavior.
• Teach skills by providing examples, practice, and feedback.
• Manage consequences so that reinforcers are provided for appropriate behavior and withheld for inappropriate behavior.