Start Strong: Preventing Challenging Behavior at the Beginning of the School Year

One of the things I love most about working in school settings is that there is always a clear beginning and end. The first day of school never gets old. There's an undeniable excitement in the air as students return, reconnecting with friends they haven’t seen all summer. Colleagues swap summer stories—whether about family adventures, finishing long-postponed projects, working a part-time job, finally reading a book for fun, or just catching their breath. And yes, I will never be too old to buy shiny new school supplies and a fresh pair of shoes for the year ahead.

As someone who has supported students with challenging behavior for over two decades, I can’t count how many times I’ve been called into a classroom to observe a student in the middle of a behavioral episode. Often, teachers want me to see just how intense things can get. Sometimes they want validation that it really is as bad as they’ve described, or they’re looking for a quick fix to use at the moment. The truth is, I often can’t give the answer they’re hoping for—not because I don’t want to, but because the best strategy is to prevent the behavior before it escalates.

Practical Tips for Preventing Challenging Behavior

1. Teach Expectations Proactively Just like we don’t wait for students to fail before teaching academic concepts, we shouldn’t wait for behavioral issues before teaching expectations. On Day One, explicitly teach the behavioral expectations for each space in the school—classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, playground, arrival and dismissal areas. Use clear, age and developmentally appropriate language and visuals where possible.

2. Practice and Reteach One lesson is never enough. Build in multiple opportunities for students to practice behaviors the same way you do with math or reading skills. Give specific positive feedback when students meet expectations, and gentle, corrective feedback when they don’t. Treat mistakes as learning opportunities, not punishable offenses.

3. Establish, Teach, and Reinforce Routines Strong routines are the backbone of a well-managed classroom. From lining up to turning in work to transitioning between activities, each procedure should be clearly taught, modeled, and practiced. Routines not only reduce problem behavior but also maximize instructional time.

4. Create a Predictable and Safe Environment Consistency helps students feel safe. Use visual schedules, timers, and structured transitions to provide predictability. Design the classroom layout to allow the teacher to easily move around, maintain visibility of all students, and respond quickly and calmly when needed.

5. Use Active Supervision and Proximity Move around the room with purpose. Standing near a student who’s off-task is often all it takes to redirect them—without saying a word. Active supervision is one of the most effective, underused tools for preventing escalation.

6. Build Relationships Early and Often Students are more likely to engage positively when they feel connected and valued. Greet them at the door, learn their names quickly, ask about their interests, and find small moments to connect throughout the day. Relationship-building is not “extra”—it’s foundational to classroom management.

7. Anticipate Triggers and Plan Ahead Reflect on what’s been challenging in the past. Do certain times of day, subjects, or transitions tend to be harder for your class or particular students? Anticipate these moments and have strategies in place—like scheduled brain breaks, visual reminders, or movement-based transitions

The beginning of the school year is more than just a fresh start—it’s our opportunity to set the tone, teach expectations, and create environments where students are set up for success. When we prioritize prevention, we spend less time reacting and more time teaching and connecting. Challenging behavior doesn't usually come out of nowhere—it often grows in environments where expectations are unclear, relationships are weak, or routines are inconsistent. By being proactive, intentional, and compassionate from day one, we not only prevent behavior problems, but we also build classrooms that are inclusive, respectful, and ready to thrive.