Let’s be real—teaching behavior is just as important as teaching reading or math. But unlike academic content, behavior isn’t always part of a formal curriculum. That means it’s up to us to find ways to explicitly teach, model, and reinforce the kind of behaviors that make our classrooms safe, productive, and supportive. And when it comes to behavior instruction, visuals are everything. That’s why I’m so excited to share a resource that has the potential to be a true game-changer: the Teaching Classroom Behavior Toolkit.
This isn’t just another behavior chart or clip chart system (learn more here about WHY I don’t love this method)—it’s a differentiated, visually-supported toolkit that helps students understand, reflect on, and practice classroom behaviors in meaningful, hands-on ways. Whether you’re working with students who are just learning how to “do school,” or older students who need reminders and reinforcements, this kit delivers with clarity, accessibility, and flexibility.
🧠 Why We Need to Explicitly Teach Behavior
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), one of the five core competencies of SEL is self-management—the ability to regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations. But kids don’t learn that through osmosis. Just like we scaffold a math concept, we need to scaffold behavior skills.
In fact, a growing body of research supports the idea that explicit instruction in behavioral expectations—paired with visual supports and interactive practice—can significantly reduce classroom disruptions and improve learning outcomes (Simonsen, Fairbanks, Briesch, Myers, & Sugai, 2008).
The Teaching Classroom Behavior Toolkit aligns perfectly with this research. It takes some of the guesswork out of behavior instruction and makes it easy to consistently and clearly teach what positive behavior looks like, sounds like, and feels like in your unique classroom.
🌟 What’s Included in the Toolkit?
This resource is packed with tools that are practical, engaging, and (best of all) super low-prep. Here’s what you get:
- ✨ Differentiated and visually supported social scripts
These are perfect for modeling behaviors with students who benefit from structured language. Think: “When I need help, I can…” or “If someone bumps me, I can say…” Clear, repeatable scripts make behaviors feel accessible and doable. - ✨ Visual anchor chart of helpful & unhelpful behaviors
A classroom must-have! Students can reference this chart to compare behaviors and reflect on their choices without shame or confusion. - ✨ Discussion prompts for conversation, journaling, or charades
These are golden for morning meetings, SEL lessons, or quick check-ins. They promote student voice and critical thinking about behavior in real-world situations. Also perfect for journaling, a game of charades, or structured peer conversations. - ✨ Simple games to reinforce concepts
Who doesn’t love learning through play? These games provide meaningful repetition of behavior concepts without feeling like a lecture. - ✨ Two interactive notebook-style activities
These hands-on tools give students a chance to reflect, process, and take ownership of their behavior in a personal and engaging way.
💡 Why Teachers Love It
This toolkit was clearly made with busy teachers in mind. Here are some standout features that make it incredibly teacher-friendly:
- ✅ Extremely low prep (just some cutting!)
- ✅ Highly differentiated for a range of learners (great for special education, multilingual learners, and early elementary)
- ✅ Student-friendly fonts & clear visuals that boost accessibility
- ✅ Black and white versions for easy printing and coloring
- ✅ Visual directions and photo examples to help you see how everything fits together
As someone who spent the majority of their career working with neurodivergent students—including students with IEPs, behavior support plans, and social emotional needs—I can’t overstate how important these visual and differentiated elements are. This toolkit doesn’t just tell students what to do—it shows them, supports them as they practice, and creates space for reflection and conversation.
The Toolkit in Action
Picture this: It’s the beginning of the year (or maybe the week after spring break), and you’re resetting classroom expectations. You start your morning meeting with a behavior charades game using the discussion prompts. Later, you break into small groups and use the social scripts to role-play how to ask a peer to share. During quiet time, students work independently on their interactive notebook activity, choosing which behaviors they want to practice.
By the end of the week, students aren’t just following rules—they’re internalizing why those rules matter, and learning to reflect on their behavior in real time.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Behavior doesn’t have to be a battle. With the right tools in place, it becomes just another part of the learning process—something we teach, revisit, celebrate, and reflect on. The Teaching Classroom Behavior Toolkit helps you do exactly that, with clarity, simplicity, and intention.
If you’re ready to take a more proactive, visual, and student-centered approach to classroom behavior, this toolkit is absolutely worth checking out. Your future self (and your students!) will thank you.
