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Good Behavior Game

Boy raising handThe Good Behavior Game is an evidence-based behavioral classroom management strategy that helps children learn how to work together to create a positive learning environment. It promotes each child’s positive behavior by rewarding student teams for complying with criteria set for appropriate behavior, such as working quietly, following directions, or being polite to each other. The team-based approach uses peer encouragement to help children follow rules and learn how to be good students. It also enables teachers to build strong academic skills and positive behaviors among students.

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a team-based classroom behavior management strategy that helps young children master the role of student while developing the discipline needed to sit still, pay attention and complete their school work.

AIR works with school districts and communities on all aspects of GBG implementation, including planning, providing training to teachers and local coaches, and monitoring practices over time.

Read more about AIR's work on the Good Behavior Game >>

The strategy benefits both students and teachers. Through GBG, children work together to create a positive learning environment by monitoring their own behavior as well as that of their classmates. Teachers use GBG during the school day as a learning strategy that does not compete with instructional time. In GBG classrooms there is less off-task and disruptive behavior and teachers have more time to devote to teaching.

GBG is built around four core elements that integrate classroom rules, team membership, monitoring of behavior and positive reinforcement to individuals and the group.

GBG has been proven to reduce aggressive, disruptive behavior and increase on-task behavior for students by the end of first grade, and delay the age of first-time smoking for students by middle school.

GBG has also been proven to reduce students’ use of mental health and behavioral services from 1st grade through young adulthood. For young adults, especially males who were aggressive and disruptive, playing GBG as a child can have long-term impacts on mental health, smoking, and drug and alcohol abuse.

AIR has conducted GBG implementation activities in Baltimore, MD; Colorado; Houston, TX; Washington, DC; Nebraska; and the United Kingdom.

Latest Work

15 Aug 2020
Spotlight

Spotlight on School Climate

Accurately measuring school climate helps schools identify areas of improvement and choose evidence-based interventions for effecting positive change. Read what our researchers are finding out about how learning environments affect whether students feel—and are—safe, connected, supported, and challenged.
Project

Implementing the Good Behavior Game in the UK

The Good Behavior Game is a team-based classroom behavior management strategy designed for early grades, helping children master the role of student and be successful at the demands of the classroom. AIR is working with Mentor UK and their partners to implement the Good Behavior Game in 74 primary schools across Northern England and the East Midlands.
Project

Piloting the Good Behavior Game in Brazil

The Good Behavior Game is a team-based classroom behavior management strategy that promotes positive behavior and has shown positive long-term impacts for students. AIR's Good Behavior Game team joined the Brazilian Ministry of Health to pre-pilot the Good Behavior Game in Brazil.
29 Jul 2011
Brochure

The Good Behavior Game: Success in the Classroom and Beyond

AIR provides a comprehensive approach to training, on-site coaching, and program oversight to realize positive results from the Good Behavior Game.

Project

Improving Student Behavior in Houston With the Good Behavior Game

In 2009, HISD partnered with AIR to implement the Good Behavior Game in first- and second-grade classrooms, with a grant funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. By 2015, more than 100 teachers will be trained, and more than 7,000 children will have been reached.

21 Jun 2011
Brochure

Good Behavior Game Research, Training and Support

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a team-based classroom behavior management strategy that helps young children master the role of student while developing the discipline needed to sit still, pay attention and complete their school work. AIR works with school districts and communities on all aspects of GBG implementation.

Project

Good Behavior Game Professional Development Study

With funding from the Institute of Education Sciences and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, AIR has partnered with Houston Independent School district, to examine the level of professional development needed for teachers to effectively implement the Good Behavior Game.

4 Apr 2007
Report

Effects of a Universal Classroom Behavior Management Program

The Good Behavior Game (GBG), a method of classroom behavior management used by teachers, was tested in first and second grade classrooms in 19 Baltimore City Public Schools beginning in the 1985–1986 school year. The intervention was directed at the classroom as a whole to socialize children to the student role and reduce aggressive, disruptive behaviors, confirmed antecedents of later substance abuse and dependence disorders, smoking, and antisocial personality disorder.

Project

Center for Integrating Education and Prevention Research (EdPrev)

AIR’s Center for Integrating Education and Prevention Research (EdPrev) investigates ways to improve children’s success in school and related long-term behavioral, mental health, and social-functioning outcomes.

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Megan Sambolt

Megan Sambolt

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