Are you looking for ways to help students appropriately respond to classroom signals? If so, keep reading.

1. Get the learner to observe and mimic the responses of peers to environmental signals to increase success in learning environmental signals . (For example, as the learner is learning to respond properly to doors identified as “In” and “Out,” the learner can mimic the behavior of peers who use appropriate doors to enter and leave areas of the educational environment.)

2. Praise the learner for asking the meaning of environmental signals not grasped (e.g., bells, signs, etc.).

3. Give the learner simulation learning activities in the classroom to teach successful responses to environmental signals (e.g., responses to words, symbols, instructions, etc.).

4. Select a peer to escort the learner and act as a model in teaching appropriate responses to environmental signals as the learner moves throughout the school building.

5. Separate at several points throughout the day (e.g., when the lunch bell rings, when walking by restroom signs, etc.) to point out the various signals to the students.

6. Give the learner oral reminders or prompts when they miss an environmental signal.

7. Examine the environmental signals that are essential to the learner (e.g., bells, signs, etc.).

8. Utilize vocabulary that is within the learner’s level of comprehension when delivering instructions, explanations, and information.

9. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the learner’s progress. Parents can reinforce their child at home for responding properly to environmental signals at school.

10. Draft an agreement with the learner stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., responding properly to bells, rules, point cards, reminders, etc.) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

11. Praise the learner for responding properly to environmental signals based on the number of environmental signals the learner can successfully follow. As the learner shows success, slowly increase the number of appropriate responses to environmental signals required for reinforcement.

12. Praise those students in the classroom who respond properly to environmental signals .

13. Converse with the learner to explain (a) what the learner is doing wrong (e.g., failing to respond properly to bells, signs indicating restroom instructions, etc.) and (b) what the learner should be doing (e.g., responding properly to bells, signs indicating restroom instructions, etc.).

14. Praise the learner for responding properly to environmental signals : (a) give the learner a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the learner an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

15. Consider using a classroom management app to help the student learn to respond appropriately to classroom signals. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

16. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to respond appropriately to classroom signals. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

17. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.