Acknowledgment

Acknowledging students when they engage in behavior that promotes the academic and social health of the classroom community is a cornerstone of PBIS in the classroom. Praise of this type lets students know that their good behaviors are recognized and valued by the teacher, making those behaviors more likely to be repeated. This does not mean that negative student behaviors go unaddressed, but rather that teachers must expend more energy highlighting positive behaviors than they do when responding to negative behaviors. Students who feel recognized and valued are more likely to learn and demonstrate appropriate behaviors that benefit both themselves and others in the classroom. Committing to this practice makes all other classroom management strategies easier to maintain and more effective.