Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a research-backed approach designed to proactively prevent challenging behaviors while reinforcing the positive ones.
Originally published 4/25/2023, updated 3/18/2025
If you’ve ever felt like you spend more time redirecting than actually teaching, you’re not alone. Managing student behavior can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
Schools that implement PBIS report fewer disciplinary incidents, improved academic outcomes, and a more positive school climate. Even better? PBIS has been shown to reduce disparities in discipline and create a more equitable learning environment for all students—including those with disabilities or behavioral challenges.
But PBIS isn’t just a school-wide initiative—it’s a framework that can transform your classroom by focusing on what’s working instead of just reacting to what’s not.
How PBIS Works: The Three Tiers of Support
PBIS uses a three-tiered system of support to address behavior at different levels of intensity. Think of it like a pyramid, with universal supports for all students at the bottom, targeted supports for students who need extra help in the middle, and intensive, individualized interventions for students with significant behavioral challenges at the top.
Tier 1: Universal Supports
These are classroom-wide strategies designed to set all students up for success. The goal is prevention—creating a structured, supportive environment where positive behaviors are the norm.
Tier 2: Targeted Supports
Some students need a little extra guidance to meet behavior expectations. Tier 2 provides small-group or individualized interventions to help at-risk students before behaviors escalate.
Tier 3: Intensive Supports
For students with persistent or severe behavior challenges, Tier 3 involves personalized interventions that may include behavior plans, counseling, or additional school-based supports.
The PBIS framework is based on four key principles: (1) prevention, (2) positive behavior support, (3) data-based decision making, and (4) continuous monitoring and evaluation.
Prevention is the foundation of PBIS and involves creating a positive and supportive learning environment. This is done through proactive strategies such as classroom rules, routines, and procedures, and positive teacher-student relationships.
Positive behavior support involves reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching students the social and emotional skills they need to succeed in school and life.
Teachers use data-based decision making to guide decisions about student support and intervention. Then, teachers engage in continuous monitoring and evaluation of the process. This involves regularly assessing the effectiveness of the PBIS program and making adjustments as needed.
Related post: What I learned from PBIS – The good, the bad, and the ugly
Using PBIS in Your Classroom: Tier 1 and Tier 2 Strategies
Even if your school doesn’t have a formal PBIS program, you can still implement proactive, research-based PBIS strategies in your own classroom to create a more positive, structured learning environment.
Tier I: Universal Supports for All Students
Teach and model behavior expectations
Students can’t meet expectations if they don’t know what they are. Explicitly teach behavior expectations just like you would an academic skill. Role-play, model, and reinforce what respectful, responsible, and safe behavior looks like in different situations.
Provide positive feedback
Acknowledging students when they meet expectations helps reinforce those behaviors. A simple “I love how you helped your classmate just now” can go a long way.
Create a classroom-wide reward system
Class incentives help motivate students and reinforce a culture of positive behavior. This could be a simple classroom economy, behavior chart, or group reward system that encourages students to work together toward a goal.
Establish a predictable daily routine
Consistency builds security. When students know what to expect, they are more likely to engage appropriately. Establish clear transitions, morning routines, and classroom procedures so students always know the flow of the day.
Use visual supports
Posters, anchor charts, visual schedules, and behavior cues provide non-verbal reminders that help students stay on track. These are especially useful for younger students and those who need extra reinforcement.
Related post: Guidance or Discipline: Which Approach Sets Your Classroom Up for Success?
Tier II: Targeted Supports for Students Who Need Extra Help
Identify students who need additional support
Keep an eye out for students who struggle with expectations despite Tier 1 supports. These students may need a little extra structure, coaching, or reinforcement to be successful.
Use small-group interventions
For students who need more practice with social skills, small-group lessons on conflict resolution, emotional regulation, or self-control can provide additional guidance.
Implement a Check-In/Check-Out system
A daily Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) system gives students structured accountability and support. Students start the day by setting a behavior goal with a teacher or mentor and check in again at the end of the day for feedback and encouragement.
Use behavior tracking sheets
A simple, visual tool like a behavior tracking sheet helps monitor progress and identify patterns. This can be used to guide intervention strategies and provide concrete data when communicating with parents or support staff.
Provide incentives for progress
For students who need extra motivation, personalized incentives can be a powerful reinforcement tool. Extra free time, choice seating, or a preferred classroom activity can be used as rewards for meeting behavior goals.
Related post: Why Reward Systems Don’t Work: A Better Way to Increase Student Engagement
Why PBIS Works: The Benefits for Teachers and Students
PBIS is designed to make behavior management easier, not harder. By focusing on positive reinforcement and proactive strategies, teachers spend less time managing disruptions and more time teaching.
Some key benefits of PBIS in the classroom include:
- A calmer, more predictable learning environment with fewer disruptions
- Increased student engagement and academic achievement
- Improved teacher morale with less stress and burnout
- Stronger teacher-student relationships built on trust and respect
- Greater parent involvement and communication
Rather than reacting to misbehavior, PBIS gives teachers the tools to prevent it in the first place—creating a classroom where students feel supported, motivated, and ready to learn.
Take PBIS to the Next Level with the Classroom Management Toolkit
Implementing PBIS strategies in your classroom doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you’re looking for ready-to-use tools that make classroom management easier, check out my Classroom Management Toolkit.
Click the image below to grab your Classroom Management Toolkit now! >>
Take the guesswork out of behavior management and start seeing the benefits of PBIS in your classroom today. By implementing structured, proactive behavior supports, you can create a classroom environment where students thrive—and where you feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
