Good Behavior Game

A Tier 1 Classroom Management Strategy

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a research-based intervention that teachers can use to manage their students’ behavior. It has demonstrated excellent outcomes across all grade levels (K-12) and for students from a variety of cultural backgrounds. The GBG is a valuable addition to any teacher’s tool kit as a Tier 1 strategy to increase time on task and rule-following behavior.

The GBG takes advantage of three major sources of influence on children’s behavior: (1) Competition, (2) Cooperation, and (3) Peer Support.

The GBG consists of splitting the class up into teams and having the teams compete for preferred activities (e.g., extra recess time, indoor free time, snacks) and rewards (e.g., line-leader privileges, get out of homework pass, item from treasure chest, etc.)

The competition involves identifying which team behaves the best during certain times throughout the day. While playing The GBG, students cooperate with their team members in order to be the team who gains the most points and, in turn, wins access to a desired activity or reward.

The GBG involves peer support in that students ignore the challenging behavior of their classmates and/or prompt them to perform the desired behaviors that will earn their team points.

Next to Getting Started: Basics of GBG

 

The authors would like to thank the administration of Hacienda/La Puente School District, California, for sponsoring the TIERS Initiative to address effective, evidence based behavioral Rtl by Diana Browning Wright and Clayton R. Cook.

Reference: Tingstrom DH, Sterling-Turner HE, Wilczynski SM. The Good Behavior Game: 1969-2002.Behavior Modification. 2006; 30 (2): 225-253.

Revised from the original authors (Diana Browning-Wright, Lisa Mannino, & Clayton Cook) on 6/2021 to ensure accessibility.