Nonverbal cues are silent, pre-agreed signals used between the teacher/staff member and the student to:

• Redirect behavior discreetly

• Prevent escalation

• Promote independence

• Avoid embarrassment or power struggles

Why It Works:

• Prevents public calling out or confrontation

• Reduces shame, defensiveness, and escalation

• Helps students self-monitor without disruption

• Builds trust and a sense of emotional safety

• Ideal for students who are trauma-impacted, oppositional, or easily overwhelmed

How to Implement:

1. Identify target behavior (e.g., off-task, blurting, refusal).

2. Choose a subtle, respectful signal that the student is comfortable with.

3. Teach and practice the cue with the student during a calm moment.

4. Pair the cue with positive reinforcement when the student responds appropriately.

5. Fade the cue gradually as student gains independence.

Examples:

• Student becomes defiant when redirected verbally.

• Staff and student agree on a "two fingers to the chin" cue that means "take a breath."

• When student starts to escalate, staff gives cue instead of verbal redirection.

• Student is praised later for de-escalating on their own.

Nonverbal Cues can be used in any tier, but I formatted this especially for Tier 3.