A 2023 ERIC study found that 72% of teachers report spending more time managing behavior than teaching (source). As classroom disruptions rise, what are research-backed approaches that tackle the root causes of poor behavior? In this blog entry, you will find some strategies that introduce, as well as revisit, proactive strategies you can take to create calm classrooms and regain a sense of peace during your lessons.
My Experience Managing Behavior
A crock pot saved my sanity during my second year of teaching and helped me build a stronger relationship with tortured, inner city youth. After a few home visits, I started to understand why these children had so much anger and rebelliousness. But in time, it worked out. Thank goodness, because I found myself despairing that anything (e.g. books, technology) could make a dent on the hardened hearts of my students.
As a fifth grade Language Arts/ESL teacher working in Cotulla ISD and a third grade bilingual/ESL in Mt. Pleasant ISD, I had few students that required “managing behavior.” In both locales, East Texas and Central Texas, I found the students a delight to encourage and teach. Tasked with teaching these students how to write, in some cases in their second language, I found them willing learners whose personal life seldom interfered. That was not the case in urban city schools I found myself. In these locations, I had serious concerns about students raised in the midst of crime and abuse, who sought to exorcise the horrors visited upon them by passing them on to their classmates.
My experiences with those children were less happy, and I remember one Winter Break, wondering, “How can I quit my job or switch careers?” But the situation improved due to an act committed right before the Break. With seventy-two referrals under my belt in one urban district, I decided at the urging of my wife, to prepare a meal as part of a lesson. Since I barely knew how to boil water, I walked in with a crock pot, bowls, and utensils. I don’t know if I tapped into the cultural tradition of breaking bread, or a shared meal, but somehow, core elements of my class decided to welcome me into their community. Where the first half of the year had been as if I had been cast into a lake of fire, the second half saw serious academic work. That experience built a foundation for how to connect with students. It had a lasting impact in how I connected with students from that point forward.
That’s why I always keep an eye out for successful strategies like proactive discipline. Before exploring three pillars of proactive discipline, let’s clarify the larger framework of PBIS.
Defining PBIS
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports are strategies employed by schools to effectively teach, encourage, and reinforce pro-social behavior in and out of the classroom (source). PBIS is an evidence-based framework for preventing problem behavior. It provides students with instruction and support for positive and prosocial behaviors. PBIS seeks to support social, emotional, and behavioral needs of all students. The PBIS framework allows for sharing a wide range of behavior strategies and prevention-based interventions at the universal (school-wide), targeted (classroom or group), and intensive (small group or individual) levels (source). The PBIS Framework includes three tiers. Those are illustrated throughout this blog entry.
Three Pillars of Proactive Discipline
“When we implemented school-wide PBIS frameworks, our office referrals dropped by 40% virtually overnight,” shares middle school principal Lisa Chen. Her experience reflects what many educators discover when shifting from reactive to proactive discipline approaches.
When I started teaching, the three pillars were never articulated in this way, or expressed with such specific examples. Instead, the advice was more like, “Here’s a book on classroom discipline. It has some good ideas you can apply.” Those texts never quite applied to the populations of students I worked with. That’s why I find proactive discipline strategies worthy of consideration and use.
1. Structure Prevents Escalation
Consistent routines and clear expectations significantly reduce anxiety-driven behaviors. The goal is to establish routines that take the mystery out of what students need to expect.
I can think of specific instances when I hadn’t set clear expectations with my urban school district students that created opportunities for unpredictability. Some ways to eliminate student uncertainty and confusion appear below.
In Practice:
- Co-create classroom rules with students using visual anchors
- Implement predictable routines for transitions
- Employ non-verbal cues for subtle redirection
Classroom Scenario:
Mr. Thompson’s 5th graders practice “silent signals”—three finger taps mean “return to your seat.” During lab transitions, he flashes this signal instead of raising his voice, maintaining flow without disruption.
| Classroom Management Practice | Ed Tech Solution | How it Supports the Practice | Texas Classroom Application | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-creating Classroom Rules with Visual Anchors | Collaborative Whiteboard Platforms (Canva Whiteboard, Padlet), Google Slides | Students participate in rule creation, visual anchors enhance understanding and memory, easy editing. | Use Texas symbols to represent values, share digital rule charts with parents. | Accessibility, simplicity, integration, teacher training, age appropriateness. |
| Implementing Predictable Routines for Transitions | Digital Timers and Visual Schedules (Classroom Timers, Google Calendar, visual timer apps), Music Playlists (Spotify, YouTube Music) | Clear transition cues,** calming atmosphere**, reduces anxiety. | Use music, include Texas landmark images in schedules. | Accessibility, simplicity, integration, age appropriateness. |
| Employing Non-Verbal Cues for Subtle Redirection | Digital Visual Cues (Customizable GIFs, short video clips, displayed images), Sound Effects (tablet/computer) | Discreet redirection, effective for distracted students, alternative to verbal cues. | Use Texas nature sounds, create Texas-related GIFs. | Accessibility, simplicity, integration, teacher training, age appropriateness. |
2. Emotional Skills as Discipline Tools
SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) programs can reduce disciplinary incidents by up to 28%, according to CASEL research (source). One school district observed 31% fewer suspensions after staff training in trauma-informed practice.
Teach conflict resolution by:
Practical Applications:
- Role-play using “I feel” statements during morning meetings
- Introduce peer mediation programs
- Utilize mood meters for regular emotional check-ins
3. Movement Breaks Reset Focus
As an academic, it’s easy to get stuck in the idea of sitting at your desk all day. Anyone who has taught children knows the benefits of getting children to move around. Recess isn’t a bonus, reward for students, it’s a means to an end that improves cognition. Boost engagement with movement in the classroom.The CDC recommends 20-minute intervals of activity to improve students’ cognitive control (source).
Quick Ideas:
| Activity | Duration | Grade Level |
|---|---|---|
| Desk yoga | 5 mins | K-12 |
| Hallway laps | 3 mins | 3-12 |
| Chair aerobics | 7 mins | 6-12 |
If you have funding and support, consider taking advantage of these AI-generated suggestions. One of my favorites is the “free for educators” GoNoodle mentioned in the gamified movement apps row below.
| Ed Tech Solution | Description | Texas Classroom Application | Benefits | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Projectors & Whiteboards with Motion Tracking | Systems with built-in cameras or sensors to track student movement. | Integrate Texas history, geography, or math concepts into interactive movement games; interactive PE warm-ups. | Highly engaging, promotes collaboration, adaptable to various subjects. | Accessibility, cost, infrastructure, teacher training, safety. |
| Gamified Movement Apps and Platforms | Apps like GoNoodle, Classcraft, and Cosmic Kids Yoga that incorporate movement into games and activities. | Brain breaks, integrate movement challenges into lessons, mindfulness exercises. | Fun, easy to use, tailored to different age groups. | Accessibility, cost, curriculum alignment. |
| Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences | VR headsets and AR apps that create immersive movement-based learning experiences. | Simulate historical events, explore Texas ecosystems, create interactive scavenger hunts and obstacle courses. | Highly immersive, engaging, unique learning experiences. | Accessibility, cost, potential for motion sickness, safety, teacher training. |
| Interactive Floor Projectors | Systems that project interactive images and games onto the floor. | Interactive maps of Texas, math games, interactive storytelling. | Encourages full-body movement, promotes collaboration, wide range of activities. | Cost, space requirements, maintenance. |
Sustaining Change
Want to learn more about how to implement proactive strategies for calm classrooms? Consider setting up monthly micro-PD sessions, encourage behavior tracking through parent portals, and explore resources such as the PBIS Implementation Guide and CASEL Playbook.