Behaviour Building

Behaviourist learning theory remains a solid foundation for classroom management and skill-building. Its core principle? Behaviour that’s reinforced is more likely to be repeated.

Clear feedback and consistent reinforcement help shape learning. We can use this by offering praise or privileges for positive actions—such as on-task work, collaboration, or perseverance.

Behaviourism also supports explicit instruction, which involves modelling a skill, practising it together, and then providing students with opportunities for independent success, accompanied by immediate feedback.

The key is consistency. Reinforce the behaviours you want to see, and keep consequences predictable and calm. Over time, students associate effort with achievement—a critical mindset for lifelong learning.

There’s a caveat here–a big one! Star charts are inadequate as behaviour modifiers. I’ve counselled many teachers, both beginning and experienced, on their pitfalls. Even younger children can quickly learn to manipulate the process to gain a reward, rather than learning what you intended them to learn. I’ve seen many charts become a means of control rather than a means to promote repeated positive behaviours.

A better approach is to set clear expectations (and who doesn’t?), then build confidence in your students to achieve them. Intrinsic rewards drive learning more powerfully than extrinsic rewards, such as sticker charts.

In short, behaviourism helps make learning visible, structured, and rewarding—exactly what developing minds need to thrive.