An Innovative Technique Teachers Can Use to Both Increase Students’ Appropriate Behaviors While Decreasing Their Inappropriate Behaviors

Abstract

An inability to effectively manage students’ challenging behaviors is one of the reasons 40% to 50% of teachers leave the profession within the first five years of their career. Many teachers dread dealing with students who misbehave because it has become such an unpleasant experience. They either avoid it or send students out of the room, usually to the principal’s office. The purpose of this article is to provide teachers with a fun, positive way to simultaneously increase students’ appropriate behaviors while decreasing their inappropriate behaviors without the use of punitive techniques. The technique is a reinforcement delivery system called chart moves. Chart moves are effective in increasing students’ motivation to engage in positive prosocial and academic behaviors while also decreasing inappropriate behaviors otherwise used to escape academic tasks perceived to be unpleasant.

Keywords: positive reinforcement, chart moves, motivational strategy, students with challenging behaviors

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/15-2-04

Publication date: February 28th 2024