As educators, it is our role to teach students how to build positive relationships and behave in ways that strengthen their ability to succeed in school and in life. When we reinforce positive behaviors and respond to misbehaviors in calm, respectful, and thoughtful ways, we teach our students important social and emotional skills that enable them to get along with others, make responsible decisions, and focus on learning.

All behavior has a purpose. When misbehavior occurs, we must seek to understand the underlying reasons for the behavior in order to design a response that effectively changes student behavior. When schools develop disciplinary responses that are, reflective, restorative and instructional, student-teacher relationships, student outcomes, and overall school climate all stand to improve.