Teacher-Delivered Behavioral Interventions in Grades K-5 - A What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide for Educators

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Melati

Teacher-Delivered Behavioral Interventions in Grades K–5 is a What Works Clearinghouse Practice Guide for educators that consolidates research and practitioner experience to support elementary students’ prosocial and expected behavior. The guide presents seven evidence-based classroom practices, each supported by research evidence. For every recommendation, it provides an actionable approach, guidance for implementation, potential obstacles with advice, and tools and resources to help educators adapt use to their context.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Recommendations

Co-establish, model, and teach clear expectations

Remind students to engage in expected behaviors

Acknowledge expected behaviors with positive attention, praise, and rewards

Offer instructional choices to increase engagement and agency

Provide frequent and varying opportunities to respond and engage

Teach students to monitor and reflect on their own behavior

Use behavior ratings to provide feedback to students

Practice Guide Structure

Actionable recommendation and research summary

Guidance for implementation

Potential obstacles and solutions

Tools and resources

Teacher-Delivered Behavioral Interventions in Grades K–5 A What Works Clearinghouse ™ Practice Guide for Educators Over the past 25 years, research and practical experience have supported investments in strategies to encourage all students to behave according to agreed-upon expectations. In collaboration with expert panelists, the What Works Clearinghouse™ (WWC) distilled that research into practical recommendations for elementary educators. The Teacher-Delivered Behavior Interventions in Grades K-5Practice Guide details seven evidencebased practices for teachers to use in their classrooms to support students in demonstrating prosocial and expected behavior. | Recommendations
1. Co-establish, model, and teach clear expectations for student behavior consistent with
schoolwide expectations.
2. Remind students to engage in expected behaviors.
3. Acknowledge students for demonstrating expected behaviors through positive attention, praise, and rewards.
4. Oﬀer instructional choices to students to increase engagement and agency.
5. Provide students frequent and varying opportunities to respond to and engage in activities.
6. Teach students to monitor andreﬂect on their own behavior.
7. Use behavior ratings to provide feedback to students. | | | --- | --- | For each recommendation, the practice guide discusses: Recommendations Includes an actionable recommendation, a summary of the research evidence that supports the recommendation, and a description of how the recommended practice supports student learning. Guidance Explains how to carry out the recommendation, informed by studies that support the recommendation, as well as the panel’s expertise and knowledge of strategies available to help implement the recommendations. Potential Obstacles Includes obstacles and advice from the expert panel about how to overcome them. Tools and Resources Oﬀers practical information and examples to help practitioners implement the recommendation. Readers are encouraged to use the advice provided in ways that work best in their context. Users of this practice guide may decide to implement some or all ofthe recommendations. [WhatWorks.ed.gov](WhatWorks.ed.gov)

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Teacher-Delivered Behavior Interventions practice guide?

It provides educators with evidence-based recommendations and classroom practices to help students in grades K–5 demonstrate prosocial and expected behavior.

What are the seven classroom recommendations included in the guide?

The guide recommends: co-establishing clear expectations; reminding students; acknowledging expected behavior with positive attention; offering instructional choices; providing frequent varying response opportunities; teaching self-monitoring and reflection; and using behavior ratings for feedback.

How does the guide support educators in implementing each recommendation?

For each recommendation, it includes an actionable recommendation, a research-evidence summary, guidance for carrying it out, potential obstacles with expert advice, and tools and resources for practice.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Melati