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Welcome back to a brand-new school year! While the end of summer break is never easy, a new school year also brings a fresh start, new opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students once again. As routines return and classrooms begin to come to life, remember to give yourself grace as you settle back into the busy pace of the school year.

We are excited to bring back The PBIS Pulse — a monthly newsletter designed to support and encourage educators throughout the year. Each edition will be packed with helpful resources, classroom strategies, behavior support ideas, quick tips and tricks, training opportunities, and ready-to-share information for families and caregivers. Our goal is to provide practical tools that help create positive, supportive, and successful learning environments for both staff and students.

Thank you for everything you do each day to build strong relationships, foster positive school cultures, and support student success. Here’s to a great year ahead!

Designing a PBIS-friendly classroom helps create a positive, predictable, and supportive learning environment where students feel safe, respected, and ready to learn. Clear expectations, consistent routines, and proactive behavior supports help prevent problem behaviors before they occur while promoting student confidence, independence, and success. PBIS-friendly classrooms also strengthen relationships, improve classroom climate, and allow teachers to spend more time focused on instruction rather than behavior management.

Consider:

• Clear walkways
• Easy teacher visibility
• Minimal clutter
• Designated small-group areas
• Calm-down/reset area
• Clearly labeled materials
• Visual schedules and directions

Helpful Classroom Areas

• Turn-in station
• Supply station
• Calm corner
• PBIS reward/recognition board
• Visual expectation posters

Ideas:

• Create 3–5 simple classroom expectations
  • Example: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe
  • Click here for ideas: https://www.pbis.org/resource/creating-a-classroom-teaching-matrix
• Post expectations visibly
• Teach, model, and practice routines
• Re-teach expectations after breaks and when needed
• Use visuals and examples/non-examples

Important Routines to Teach

• Entering the classroom
• Getting supplies
• Asking for help
• Transitioning between activities
• Independent work
• Group work
• End-of-class procedures

NEVER stop re-teaching these expectations and routines! That is the key to classroom management.

Ideas:

• Greet students at the door
• Use positive language
• Celebrate effort and growth
• Maintain a high ratio of praise to correction
• Include student work displays
• Incorporate calming colors and organized spaces

PBIS-Friendly Teacher Language

Instead of:

• “Stop talking.”

Try:

• “Thank you to those who are ready to listen.”

Ideas:

• Classroom tickets/points
• Individual incentives
• Whole-class rewards
• Positive phone calls/emails home
• “Caught Being Kind” recognitions
• Mystery motivators

Keep Reinforcement:

• Immediate
• Specific
• Consistent
• Genuine

Example:

“I appreciate how quietly this table transitioned to centers.”

Here's a GREAT video example of the #1 reinforcer, OUR WORDS! They're free! And we all know that most of our kiddos are simply looking for attention that they lack at home. The more praise you can give them for good things, the more it will benefit them AND you in the long run. :)

TeachingMinute: Positive Reinforcements

Ideas:

• Send positive notes home
• Share classroom expectations
• Provide monthly behavior tips
• Celebrate student successes
• Use consistent communication systems

Free sample of note to parents: Positive Notes Home | Behavior Recognition Forms | Parent Communication | Free!

Another free sample: Positive Notes to Send Home FREE by A Grace Filled Classroom | TPT

Here's a link to a cute card I used to use for my students. There are 52 in a pack for $8! Amazon.com : AMAZINGSUN 52PCS Teacher Mail Notes to Parents, Happy Notes Mail Postcards, Motivational Good Behavior Incentive Cards,Positive Cards for Preschool Kindergarten, Teacher Classroom Supplies : Office Products