Are you looking for strategies to help students learn to fit in with their peers? If so, keep reading.

1. Give the learner more decision-making chances relative to class learning activities and tasks.

2. Do not force the learner to interact with others with whom they are not entirely comfortable.

3. Assess the social situation concerning the learner’s capacity and ability to function successfully (e.g., number of students in the group, behavior of students in the group, etc.).

4. Refrain from competition. Failure may cause the learner to ignore the consequences of their behavior.

5. Ask the learner a question when they can answer successfully.

6. Tell the learner that it is their behavior that determines consequences (e.g., positive, or negative).

7. Connect with parents to disseminate information about the learner’s progress. The parents may reinforce the learner at home for properly interacting with other students at school.

8. Do not criticize. On occasions where correcting the learner, be honest yet compassionate. Never cause the learner to feel negatively about themselves.

9. Urge and assist the learner in joining extracurricular learning activities, clubs, etc.

10. Urge the learner to further create any capacity and ability or skill they may have so peers may view the learner positively.

11. Let the learner attempt something new in private before doing it in front of others.

12. Maintain trust and confidentiality with the learner at all times.

13. Urge the learner to tell you about problems that happen with peers (e.g., being bullied, teased by others, etc.).

14. Make the consequence of a behavior obvious by identifying the consequence as it occurs and discussing alternative behavior that would have prevented the particular consequence.

15. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.

16. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

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