A Positive Approach to Reducing Negative Student Behavior

The focus of this research involved the implementation of a behavior management system with a positive focus in order to investigate how it would encourage optimal student behavior. The behavior management system was Educational Non-Verbal Yardsticks (ENVoY), created by Michael Grinder (2005). The research was conducted throughout five first-grade Spanish classrooms in an urban Midwest location. Baseline data was measured through student artifacts, student feedback questionnaires, a teacher journal, and behavior observation checklists. Upon the conclusion of the baseline data collection, the remaining time included behavior modeling sessions, the implementation of ENVoY, and data collection. The data collection methods were the same as those used to measure baseline information. The data suggested that the use of ENVoY was beneficial in encouraging positive student behavior. The use of ENVoY will continue to be used within the Spanish classes