Improving Student Behavior and Cultivating Meaningful Relationships

Lauren W. Collins, Ph.D., is an associate professor of special education at San Diego State University. Her work focuses on the dissemination of practical, evidence-based strategies for students with disabilities, with an emphasis on early literacy and behavioral interventions.Timothy J. Landrum, Ph.D., is a professor of special education at the University of Louisville. He is a leading scholar in the field of emotional and behavioral disorders who specializes in the translation of research into practice.Chris A. Sweigart, Ph.D., is a special education consultant in Kentucky and the creator of Limened, a website for teachers to support students with a variety of challenges.

“This Teacher's Guide is a must-have resource for educators. It offers practical, research-based strategies for fostering positive, inclusive classrooms. With realistic scenarios, it supports both new teachers and seasoned veterans in effectively implementing preventive strategies to teach and maintain positive behaviors. Implementing these strategies allow educators to spend less time managing intensive behaviors and more time creating inclusive classrooms where every student can thrive."Heather Griller Clark, PhDArizona State University“The book “Improving Student Behavior and Cultivating Meaningful Relationships: A Teacher’s Guide to Positive and Preventive Approaches in Inclusive Classrooms” is a source for pre-service and in-service teachers can use when establishing community classrooms that promotes active student engagement. From a practitioner lens, this book provides a step by step process for pre-service and in-service teachers to consider while building a foundation for their community inclusive classrooms.”William C. Hunter, EdDUniversity of Memphis“This is the book that I wish I would have had as a new teacher. While these strategies are not typically taught in teacher preparation programs, Collins, Landrum, and Sweigart have created a survival manual of sorts. The strategies and considerations discussed represent our current science of effective classroom management, presented in an accessible and user-friendly manner.”Terry Scott, PhDUniversity of Louisville

• Introduction; 1. Behavioral Interventions and Student-Teacher; Relationships; Part I: Teaching Behavior; 2. Establishing Expectations; 3. Explicit Instruction; Part II: Encouraging Appropriate Behavior; 4. Positive Greetings at the Door; 5. Behavioral Momentum; 6. Instructional Choice; 7. Increasing Opportunities to Respond; 8. Precorrection; 9. Precision Requests; Part III: Maintaining Appropriate Behavior; 10. Behavior Specific Praise; 11. Token Economies; 12. Positive Group Contingencies; Part IV: Responding to Intensive Behavior Support Needs; 13. Differential Reinforcement; 14. Check-In Check-Out; 15. Behavior Contracts; 16. Informal Functional Behavioral Assessment; Closing Thoughts; 17. Closing Thoughts