Four essential conditions to encourage positive student behavior
May 13, 2024, By Chrysanthi Violaris, Analyst, Strategic Research
Student behavior continues to be one of the most pressing challenges district leaders discuss with our research team. Societal shifts that began before COVID are affecting today’s students, even though they may not remember a different world. Reduced free play, increased screen time, and heightened academic pressures are just some of the socio-cultural challenges that negatively impact students. Further, a noticeable decline in student mental health has only compounded the problem to create a more challenging educational environment than ever.
A recent EAB survey confirms the severity of this situation. Around 70 percent of teachers say they’ve seen more disruptive behavior and 84 percent think students lack important skills, like self-regulation and relationship-building, compared to past generations. And the effects of concerning behavior don’t just stay in the classroom: behavioral outbursts correlate with lower grades and increased absenteeism.  Unfortunately, typical school responses to student behavior, like suspension, often make things worse and even lead to future legal problems and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline.
Recognizing the urgency of this situation, EAB has developed a blueprint for more effective behavior management. Our research shows that the best way to support students behaviorally is by creating an environment where students feel safe, supported, engaged, and connected. Read on to learn about four essential conditions to foster positive student behavior and questions to ask along the way. For more diagnostic questions or resources on how to encourage positive student behavior, visit our resource center.
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Safe
Preserve the health and well-being of students by providing a physically and psychologically safe environment.
Recommended diagnostic questions: Are there appropriate intervention measures when bullying incidents occur? Does our school have alternatives to exclusionary discipline practices (e.g., suspensions and expulsions) except for required cases?
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Supported
Offer opportunities for students to develop the socio-emotional, behavioral, and academic skills they need to thrive.
Recommended diagnostic questions: Do teachers and staff at my school provide students with regular reinforcement for positive behavior? Does our school dedicate and protect regular time in school for direct social-emotional learning (SEL) instruction?
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Engaged
Provide students with autonomy, incentives, and relevant learning materials to keep them motivated to behave positively and to learn.
Recommended diagnostic questions: Do we offer opportunities and support for experiential learning (e.g., field trips, community volunteering)? How can we design academic lessons that are reflective and relevant to students’ lived experiences?
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Connected
Foster intentional relationships between students and their teachers, staff, and peers to create an authentic community.
Recommended diagnostic questions: Do we provide volunteering and/or mentoring opportunities for parents/guardians and community members to work directly with students? Are teachers and staff incorporating and organizing team-building exercises for their students each week?
Improving student behavior is a complicated priority that can be daunting for district leaders to tackle independently. Our District Leadership Forum offers research-backed advice, data, toolkits, and executive support to help you manage and improve student behavior. For more information on how to build a better behavior management strategy, visit our Student Behavior Resource Center, or get in touch with us at [email protected].
