Addressing student behavior to meet everyone’s needs

Student behavior that disrupts learning and jeopardizes safety impacts many school districts nationwide and remains a perpetual concern of teachers (Mitchell, Kern, & Conroy, 2019). Classroom disruptions can range from minor to severe incidents, encompassing physical and verbal aggression, bullying, and other behavior that affects the teaching and learning environment (Kraft & Monti-Nussbaum, 2021). Teacher survey data from 2023 shows that problem behavior in all grade levels has increased substantially, with more than 70% of teachers reporting more disruptions than in 2019 (Prothero, 2023).

As concern grows over problem behavior, public schools need effective discipline practices. Identifying appropriate solutions requires us to understand the reason for underlying problem behavior and to identify the most effective disciplinary response.