Tier 1 UniversalStart here
Classroom strategies for every student. Start here.
Teach and post clear expectations
Define 3–5 positive expectations, teach them like academic content, and refer to them all day.
Behavior-specific praise
Name exactly what the student did well, and aim for at least four positive interactions for every correction.
Precorrection
Remind students of the expectation just before the moment they’re likely to struggle.
Proximity and nonverbal cues
Redirect quietly by moving closer, making eye contact, or using a prearranged signal.
Movement breaks
Build short, structured movement into lessons so students don’t have to find their own.
Strategic seating
Seat the student where they have the best chance to focus and succeed.
Planned ignoring
Deliberately don’t react to minor attention-seeking behavior, then give lots of attention to appropriate behavior.
Greet students at the door
Welcome each student by name as they enter and give a quick direction for the first task.
Increase opportunities to respond
Get every student answering often with choral responses, whiteboards, hand signals, and partner talk.
Calm, private redirection
Correct behavior briefly, privately, and neutrally, then move on.
Tier 2 Targeted
Extra structure for students who need more.
Check-in / check-out (CICO)
A student checks in with a mentor each morning, gets feedback on a point sheet throughout the day, and checks out each afternoon.
Behavior contract
A written agreement between the student and adults that spells out a goal, what the student will do, and what they’ll earn.
Self-monitoring
Teach the student to track their own behavior on a simple checklist at set times.
Individual token or reward system
The student earns tokens or points for a target behavior and trades them for chosen rewards.
Tier 3 Intensive
Individualized, team-based support.