Principal Hotline: How Do I Manage School Cafeteria Behavior

Introduction Managing student behavior is a key responsibility for school administrators, and the cafeteria is no exception. With the wide variety of personalities and social dynamics at play, it can be challenging to maintain a positive environment where students can both enjoy their meal and engage in healthy social interactions. In this article, we’ll explore some effective strategies for managing school cafeteria behavior and creating an environment that promotes a sense of belonging, respect, and cooperation among students. 1. Establish Clear Expectations To cultivate a positive atmosphere within the cafeteria, it’s crucial to set clear expectations for student behavior. Communicating …

21 Strategies to Help Students Who Need to Be Near You to Pay Attention

Are you looking for strategies to help students who need to be near you to pay attention? If so, keep reading. 1. Provide a consistent manner in which oral questions are asked and instructions are given. 2. Get the learner to take notes when instructions are being given following the “What, How, Learning materials, and On occasions where” format. 3. Talk regularly with the learner to help them pay attention to a source of the sound. 4. Praise the learner for paying attention to the information presented from any place in the classroom: (a) give the learner a concrete reward …

19 Strategies to Teach Students to Behave Appropriately in the Presence of Other Educators

Are you looking for strategies to teach students to behave appropriately in the presence of other educators? If so, keep reading. 1. Develop an information packet for a substitute authority figure that includes all information pertaining to the classroom (e.g., learner roster, class schedule, class rules, behavior management techniques, class helpers, etc.). 2. Make sure that the learner knows that classroom rules and behavioral consequences are in effect when a substitute authority figure is in the classroom. 3. Indicate where all needed learning materials are located to maintain structure in the classroom. 4. Indicate several learning activities in which the …

What are Internalizing Behaviors?

This is the act of directing energy (that are actually responses to issues) back to one’s self. This energy is usually negative and is a person’s response to issues instead of expressing themselves to others. Such behaviors typically include difficulty sleeping, cutting, eating too little or too much, anxiety, feeling depressed, abusing substance, as well as social withdrawal. Individuals who have been sexually, verbally, emotionally, or physically abused may also engage in such behaviors.  For instance, a young boy, who has been bullied by a peer, may respond to the situation by blaming himself or withdrawing from social activities. Children …

What are Externalizing Behaviors?

These are answers reflected outwardly to the issues a student has challenges addressing. These kinds of problems include antisocial and disruptive forms of behavior. Some examples are students disobeying rules and disturbing the class, stealing, cursing, fighting, defiance, vandalizing school property, threatening others, getting involved in underage drinking, running away from home, and showing physical aggression. Externalizing behaviors may also include relational aggression through hurtful words, gestures, and statements, like name-calling and spreading rumors. Such problem behaviors are responses to the external environment. Students with externalizing behaviors fail to express their negative emotions or responses to life pressures in a …

What are Maladaptive Behaviors?

These behaviors stop one’s ability to adapt to difficult or new circumstances. They are considered to be antisocial. Common examples of these behaviors are delayed social skill development, withdrawal, and aggression. Such behaviors can begin after an illness, major life change, or traumatic event. They could even be habits picked by individuals at an early age. Maladaptive behaviors aren’t bad or ill behaviors. Rather, they’re a series of behaviors by an individual who acts and reacts inappropriately to external or internal stimuli. Abuse or addiction can also trigger maladaptive behaviors, as such behaviors try to reclaim equilibrium when the balance …

What is Intrinsically Motivating?

This is something that a student does without any form of external reward or motivation. The task here is done based on the characteristics of the task in itself. An easy example would be reading a book or playing soccer just because the student loves it. The word ‘intrinsic’ stands for something inherent by nature. Thus, intrinsically motivating means something that motivates students from within and acts as an inner drive that propels them to get involved in an activity. When they’re intrinsically motivated, students pursue an activity just because the action itself is pleasurable, not to chase external rewards. …

What is a Behavioral Intervention Plan?

This is a plan to adjust the usual program of a child who has exhibited some form of troubling behavior. This strategy is one that is based on the results of a functional behavior assessment after keeping an eye on the child over a certain period and noticing problem behavior that needs to be addressed. A behavioral intervention plan (BIP) should have three key elements, namely:     Identification of the baseline measure of problem behavior, including the targeted behaviors’ duration, frequency, latency, and/or intensity. Such baseline must, to the level it’s feasible, include data taken across settings, activities, times …

What is Functional Behavior Assessment?

This is a technique that relates the proper observation of a certain student to a personalized curriculum as a form of intervention. In other words, a functional behavior assessment (FBA) refers to a process that identifies a target behavior that obstructs a student’s education. The assessment tries to designate the specific behavior, spot the factors that support it, and find out the purpose of such behavior.  This is followed by formulating an intervention plan and steps that teachers can implement and test to improve the student’s situation. Thus, with functional behavior assessment, a teaching plan can be developed that facilitates …

26 Ways to Motivate Students to Follow School Rules

Are you looking for ways to motivate students to follow school rules? If so, keep reading. 1. Get the learner to list the pros and cons of an action. Get the learner to consider whether the pros outweigh the cons before they take action. 2. Talk with the learner about the role and benefit of rules outside the school setting (e.g., job site, social situation, leisure learning activities, etc.). 3. Praise the learner for following school rules based on the duration of time the learner can be successful. As the learner shows success, slowly increase the duration of time required …