Learning Environments Action Research Network (LEARN)
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Source: Center on PBIS. (April 2025). Supporting and Responding to Student’s Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs: Evidence-Based Practices for Educators (Version 2). Center on PBIS, University of Oregon. www.pbis.org.
LEARN Brief and Infographic Credits: n/a
Overview:
The PBIS Center (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) provides a number of resources and tools for educators interested in implementing practices that promote the well-being of students. The materials that PBIS provides are rooted in evidence-based practices supported by data, and are excellent tools for supplementing teacher workshops, training sessions, self-assessment practices, and pedagogy and classroom management discussions. One of their signature resources, free to the public and available for download, is a practice guide entitled, “Supporting and responding to students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs: evidence-based practices for educators.” According to the PBIS Center, the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral needs of students, or (SEB) is a framework that analyzes how students interact (social), feel (emotional), and act (behavioral). Taken all together, these three categories are considered to be central components of well-being and mental health.
The practice guide provides actionable steps for four key, recommended practices: a) Creating a positive classroom environment, b) Actively promote SEB growth, c) Monitor fidelity & use data to guide implementation and d) Monitor outcomes & use data to guide response. Each of these four practices is broken down into various subthemes with an illustrative table or matrix. Each matrix has a “critical features” section that describes what a practice may look like in the classroom as well as more specific examples tailored to elementary and secondary classrooms. Non-examples, or examples of what not to do are also provided, as well as links to additional resources for those who would like to learn more or simply check out the empirical data that supports a recommended practice.
For example, key practice number one, “Creating a positive classroom environment,” contains tables with information related to several related practices for fostering a positive classroom, such as ways to establish positive connections with students, to design a safe environment, and suggestions for creating predictable routines. A teacher looking to foster a more positive classroom by enhancing the clarity of their classroom procedures might benefit from the “critical features” description that reminds us that educators explicitly teach not only content, but standardized routines and procedures. Elementary school teachers are given a space to reflect on procedures that need to be put in place for younger children, such as where to put up coats and hats, whereas secondary school teachers might be given examples of devoting routine time in class for students to self-manage with their calendars or planners. Equally helpful are the “non examples” such as “don’t assume that students will automatically know routines without instruction or feedback” and “don’t miss an opportunity to provide visual and or auditory reminders about routines and procedures (eg., signs, posters, pictures, hand signals, certain music playing, timers).”
The SEB practice guide is a useful tool, and all the more so as it is designed to be easily implemented by educators. It includes an action tool geared toward self-assessment as well as the ability to document steps in the implementation of practices that one finds the most useful. It also contains resources to monitor fidelity and access training, coaching, and feedback. Educators interested in promoting student mental health and overall well-being will find a wealth of evidence-based practices with actionable steps for implementation in this practice guide.
Key Insights:
For educators seeking a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to enhancing student wellbeing, the PBIS Center’s SEB practice guide is a veritable goldmine. Packed with actionable steps for key practices like fostering a positive classroom environment and promoting social, emotional, and behavioral growth, this guide provides an engaging mix of illustrative examples, examples of what not to do, and additional resources.
Action Steps:
This must-read guide for educators striving to nurture mental health and overall student well-being also includes self-assessment tools and focused steps for effective implementation.
