Applying Behavioral Theories to Classroom Management

What You Will Learn

In this course, teachers will learn what drives student behavior and how to build a classroom management system that addresses the cause of a behavior rather than the symptom.

When we discipline our studetns, we often are responding to a single act after it occurs, rather than taking into account the larger system of routines, relationships, and expectations. By grounding our responses in actual behavioral research, we as educators will be able to better address behavioral issues before they become a problem rather than after the fact.

In this course, you will learn about twelve well-established theories of human behavior, four for each of the three drivers of student behavior. For every theory covered, you will also receive multiple strategies on how to implement your new knowledge of behavior theory into your own classroom with your students.

What the course covers

Motivation and needs. Ryan and Deci’s Self-Determination Theory, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Expectancy-Value Theory, and Attribution Theory. Strategies include voice and choice, building a needs-based classroom climate, goal setting, self-assessment rubrics, real-world tasks with authentic audiences, and feedback that credits effort over ability.

Habits and reinforcement. Skinner’s operant conditioning, the neuroscience of the habit loop, Bandura’s social learning theory, and behavioral momentum. Strategies include immediate and specific positive reinforcement, behavior charts, eliminating the cues that trigger off-task habits, habit stacking, chime and hand-signal cues, teacher modeling, peer coaching, and task chunking.

Executive functioning and self-regulation. Working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control; Pekrun’s Control-Value Theory of Achievement Emotions; Polyvagal Theory; and Zimmerman’s three phases of self-regulated learning. Strategies include organizational tools, accountability partners, behavior reflections, daily check-ins, mindfulness practices, a classroom regulation station, movement breaks, and Plan/Do/Reflect charts.

Framing and application. A knowledge pre-check and post-check that measure growth across the course, and paired classroom comparisons that ask teachers to analyze two contrasting approaches to the same management challenge.

What teachers take away

• Precise language for identifying the cause of a behavior before selecting a response
• Thirty-six classroom strategies, each tied to the theory that supports it
• Templates ready for classroom use: interest polls, behavior charts, self-assessment rubrics, agenda formats, a regulation station poster, and progress monitoring logs
• Three action plans developed for their own students, plus a final three-part behavior improvement plan

Course Guiding Question:

How can I incorporate knowledge of behavior theories into my classroom management practices to increase student motivation, encourage positive student behavior habits, and increase their level of self-regulation?

Professional Development Credits

At the conclusion of the course, you will receive a certificate for 24 Professional Development Hours (Clock Hours, CPEs).

Model Teaching Professional Development Courses are pre-approved in many states, and we provide easy approval forms to submit to your license-granting authority if required.

If you are a teacher seeking license renewal and wish to verify acceptance of our Professional Development Courses, please view our PD STATE REQUIREMENTS PAGE to learn more about your state’s requirements.

Also, consider taking our UNIVERSITY-PARTNERED, ACADEMIC CREDIT COURSES to earn regionally accredited units or credits, accepted by most states for teacher re-licensing and salary advancement.

Approval Information About This Course for Teaching License Renewal & Continuing Education

Model Teaching has helped thousands of teachers across the country meet their relicensing requirements.

This course is Pre-Approved in the following states for License Renewal and Continuing education:

• Texas – CPE’s, TEA-Approved
• New York CTLE’s – NYSED-Approved
• Pennsylvania DOE – ACT 48-Approved
• Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) – Approved
• Nevada DOE
• Tennessee
• Other States As Well

If you do not see your state listed here, this course may be pre-approved in your state as well. Chat with us or leave a ticket for our recommendations.

For More Information About Your Specific State Requirements, Please View Your State Requirements

Please confirm your district or state requirements for license renewal before registering, and feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have about our courses.

Topics Covered and General Course Outline

Section 1 – Defining Behavior Theories

• The meaning of behavior theories
• The three drivers of human behavior: motivation and needs, habits and reinforcement, and executive functioning and self-regulation
• How teachers can use knowledge of these three drivers in their classroom management practices so that students exhibit more on-task behaviors and are successful at regulating their own behavior

Section 2 – Exploring Motivation and Needs Theories

• About our most basic needs as humans through the Self-Determination Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• How students perform better when they see value in an activity through the Expectancy-Value Theory
• How people attribute success or failure to internal or external factors with the Attribution Theory

Section 3 – Strategies to Encourage Motivation and Meet Needs

• How the four theories from Section 2 impact student behavior
• Classroom management strategies to encourage student motivation and ensure that needs are being met, which will have a direct impact on student behavior

Section 4 – Exploring Habits and Reinforcement Theories

• How behavior is often learned with the Operant Conditioning Theory and the Social Learning Theory
• How our brains connect sensory input to habitual behaviors with the Neuroscience of Habits Theory
• How Behavioral Momentum can manage behaviors

Section 5 – Strategies to Reinforce Positive Habits

• How the four theories from Section 4 impact student behavior
• Classroom management strategies to reinforce positive behaviors and limit negative behaviors

Section 6 – Exploring Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation Theories

• Three main areas that make up Executive Functioning
• How emotions are controlled by our sense of control and the perceived value of a task
• How our body and brain respond to stressors with the Polyvagal Theory
• The three phases of self-regulated learning

Section 7 – Strategies to Improve Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation

• How the four theories from Section 6 impact student behavior
• Classroom management strategies to increase your students’ skills in the areas of executive functioning and self-regulation

Section 8 – Classroom Application

• Review your Section 1 Knowledge Pre-Check to determine what you have learned
• Consider the big picture of how your new knowledge can and should impact the classroom management practices in your classroom

Helpful Resources & Templates Included With the Course

The course comes with 40 templates, tools, and graphic organizers ready to be used in your classroom!

These Include:

• Behavior Theories Graphic Organizer
• Knowledge Pre-Check with Sample
• Overview of Theories Related to Motivation and Needs
• Reflection of Student Motivation and Needs with Sample
• Interest Poll
• Self-Assessment Rubric with Sample
• Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets
• Progress Monitoring Tracker with Sample
• Motivation and Needs Action Plan with Sample
• Overview of Theories Related to Habits and Reinforcement
• Reflection of Student Habits and Reinforcement with Sample
• Behavior Chart
• Habits and Reinforcement Action Plan with Sample
• The Polyvagal Ladder Visual Aid
• Overview of Theories Related to Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation
• Reflection of Student Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation with Sample
• Agenda Templates
• Behavior Reflection
• The Four Zones of Regulation Visual Aid
• Regulation Station Poster
• Student Progress Monitoring Log: Behavior Focus
• Plan, Do, Reflect Chart with Sample
• Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation Action Plan with Sample
• Knowledge Post-Check with Sample
• Classroom Management Action Plan with Sample
• Effectiveness Rubric
• Implementation Observation Checklist with Sample

Register for the course: Applying Behavior Theories to Classroom Management now.