What Is A Behavior Rubric?

Learn what behavior rubrics are, why they are important & how to use them correctly in your school.
By 
The Liveschool Team
 | 
August 13, 2019

There are plenty of student reward ideas out there to help schools encourage positive behaviors. But these one-off rewards fall short if they’re not paired with a school-wide behavior rubric. 

Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is key to a successful PBIS program. The behavior rubric provides that consistency for students.

If you’re interested in developing a behavior rubric (also known as PBIS matrix) for your school, here are a few of the basics to help you get a big step closer to engaged and happy students. 

Students work at a table in the foreground, while a student is shown choosing a point from the behavior rubric on a smartboard in the background

What is a behavior rubric? 

A behavior rubric outlines the school’s core values, and identifies behaviors that support each value. For elementary and middle schools, there are usually a few key elements:

By identifying clear expectations for the whole school, you give students and teachers a shared reason behind their actions. 

How a behavior rubric relates to PBIS and MTSS

PBIS and MTSS are now familiar acronyms for many teachers. And a behavior rubric fits right in with both of these systems.

A school-wide behavior rubric helps teachers to implement a tailored behavior support system that fits their school’s needs and values. This format encourages teachers and administrators to think about specific actions they’d like to promote in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or even outside the school walls. 

A teacher runs a PBIS Reward store - with students lined up and one student choosing a reward

Incorporate the rubric into the school culture. 

A rubric in itself is nothing more than a chart of preferred behaviors and values. It’s up to teachers and staff to incorporate it into the daily routine. 

One way of doing this is to consistently reward students when you spot them waiting patiently in line, helping the new kid find their bus, or demonstrating any of the other coveted actions on your list. 

Erika Irwin, Assistant Principal of STEAMM Academy in Canton City, OH, helped support schoolwide behavior goals using the LiveSchool app, which provides a standardized method of rewarding specific actions. Once all grades were using the same reward system, they saw a dramatic difference. 

For us, it just re-emphasized the need for consistent, positive reinforcement, reminding them who they are, why they’re here, that they have a purpose.

With consistent rewards, the rubric became more than just a poster on the classroom wall. It was part of the school identity. 

How does a behavior rubric help students?

Every teacher understands the benefits of a peaceful classroom. But an effective rubric can also help students understand the reasons behind the rules, and create a sense of community and shared goals. 

Shauna Kreuger of Kingsway Elementary in Charlotte County, FL noticed a difference in their student body once they implemented a point system with LiveSchool to reward good behavior. 

The kids know what’s expected. When they come into classrooms, they’re working to earn those points and they know what’s going to earn them points.

They always knew they were expected to raise a hand and let others answer questions. With a standard reward system and behavior rubric, they understand why. A raised hand might be on the list of good behaviors that represent the school’s value of “respect,” and earns them points whether they’re in Math or homeroom.

Students dancing in a circle at a House party, with half of the students shown wearing an orange House shirt, and the others wearing a blue House shirt

The right behavior rubric will bring results. 

An effective rubric and behavior reward system can lead to some pretty big changes. Cherri Byford, a school counselor at Darby Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, noticed that disciplinary actions went down over 60% once the school started consistently rewarding behaviors with LiveSchool. Fewer students require summer school and test scores have even improved. 

And at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, D.C., school administrators saw a 40% drop in suspensions after supporting their behavior expectations with LiveSchool. They went from having one of the highest suspension rates in their district, to one of the lowest. 

But 7th-grade Assistant Principal Louise Lewis points out that the change went beyond numbers for Kelly Miller.

The piece that is most exciting for us as a school is being able to see the improvement in the overall culture and climate in the building.
Students raising their hands enthusiastically

What does your behavior rubric look like? Share your examples with us! Post a photo of your rubric on Facebook or Instagram and tag @whyliveschool. Once you share it we'll add it to our growing database of Behavior Rubric examples.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

Subscribe via Email

Receive the best school culture resources monthly to inspire your planning.

What Is A Behavior Rubric?

Learn what behavior rubrics are, why they are important & how to use them correctly in your school.
By 
The Liveschool Team
 | 
August 13, 2019
Teachers are always looking for creative ways to encourage a room full of antsy kids to stay engaged in the lesson.(And reward those who do.) Enter the behavior rubric.

There are plenty of student reward ideas out there to help schools encourage positive behaviors. But these one-off rewards fall short if they’re not paired with a school-wide behavior rubric. 

Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is key to a successful PBIS program. The behavior rubric provides that consistency for students.

If you’re interested in developing a behavior rubric (also known as PBIS matrix) for your school, here are a few of the basics to help you get a big step closer to engaged and happy students. 

Students work at a table in the foreground, while a student is shown choosing a point from the behavior rubric on a smartboard in the background

What is a behavior rubric? 

A behavior rubric outlines the school’s core values, and identifies behaviors that support each value. For elementary and middle schools, there are usually a few key elements:

  • It’s typically in a table format to clearly illustrate which actions align with which values. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by location, such as the classroom, hall, or playground. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by category, such as Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 
  • Behaviors may be listed by levels of achievement. For the behavioral expectation  “organization,” a clean desk might be a level 1. Helping the teacher clean after class might be a level 4 for the advanced organizers out there.

By identifying clear expectations for the whole school, you give students and teachers a shared reason behind their actions. 

How a behavior rubric relates to PBIS and MTSS

PBIS and MTSS are now familiar acronyms for many teachers. And a behavior rubric fits right in with both of these systems.

  • PBIS (or Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) refers to any schoolwide system of teaching and promoting positive behaviors. 
  • A PBIS behavior matrix is essentially a behavior rubric, designed with positive behaviors in mind. 
  • MTSS, or a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework that allows teachers to use data to identify students who need additional behavioral guidance. 

A school-wide behavior rubric helps teachers to implement a tailored behavior support system that fits their school’s needs and values. This format encourages teachers and administrators to think about specific actions they’d like to promote in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or even outside the school walls. 

A teacher runs a PBIS Reward store - with students lined up and one student choosing a reward

Incorporate the rubric into the school culture. 

A rubric in itself is nothing more than a chart of preferred behaviors and values. It’s up to teachers and staff to incorporate it into the daily routine. 

One way of doing this is to consistently reward students when you spot them waiting patiently in line, helping the new kid find their bus, or demonstrating any of the other coveted actions on your list. 

Erika Irwin, Assistant Principal of STEAMM Academy in Canton City, OH, helped support schoolwide behavior goals using the LiveSchool app, which provides a standardized method of rewarding specific actions. Once all grades were using the same reward system, they saw a dramatic difference. 

For us, it just re-emphasized the need for consistent, positive reinforcement, reminding them who they are, why they’re here, that they have a purpose.

With consistent rewards, the rubric became more than just a poster on the classroom wall. It was part of the school identity. 

How does a behavior rubric help students?

Every teacher understands the benefits of a peaceful classroom. But an effective rubric can also help students understand the reasons behind the rules, and create a sense of community and shared goals. 

Shauna Kreuger of Kingsway Elementary in Charlotte County, FL noticed a difference in their student body once they implemented a point system with LiveSchool to reward good behavior. 

The kids know what’s expected. When they come into classrooms, they’re working to earn those points and they know what’s going to earn them points.

They always knew they were expected to raise a hand and let others answer questions. With a standard reward system and behavior rubric, they understand why. A raised hand might be on the list of good behaviors that represent the school’s value of “respect,” and earns them points whether they’re in Math or homeroom.

Students dancing in a circle at a House party, with half of the students shown wearing an orange House shirt, and the others wearing a blue House shirt

The right behavior rubric will bring results. 

An effective rubric and behavior reward system can lead to some pretty big changes. Cherri Byford, a school counselor at Darby Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, noticed that disciplinary actions went down over 60% once the school started consistently rewarding behaviors with LiveSchool. Fewer students require summer school and test scores have even improved. 

And at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, D.C., school administrators saw a 40% drop in suspensions after supporting their behavior expectations with LiveSchool. They went from having one of the highest suspension rates in their district, to one of the lowest. 

But 7th-grade Assistant Principal Louise Lewis points out that the change went beyond numbers for Kelly Miller.

The piece that is most exciting for us as a school is being able to see the improvement in the overall culture and climate in the building.
Students raising their hands enthusiastically

What does your behavior rubric look like? Share your examples with us! Post a photo of your rubric on Facebook or Instagram and tag @whyliveschool. Once you share it we'll add it to our growing database of Behavior Rubric examples.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

Subscribe via Email

Receive the best school culture resources monthly to inspire your planning.

There are plenty of student reward ideas out there to help schools encourage positive behaviors. But these one-off rewards fall short if they’re not paired with a school-wide behavior rubric. 

Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is key to a successful PBIS program. The behavior rubric provides that consistency for students.

If you’re interested in developing a behavior rubric (also known as PBIS matrix) for your school, here are a few of the basics to help you get a big step closer to engaged and happy students. 

Students work at a table in the foreground, while a student is shown choosing a point from the behavior rubric on a smartboard in the background

What is a behavior rubric? 

A behavior rubric outlines the school’s core values, and identifies behaviors that support each value. For elementary and middle schools, there are usually a few key elements:

  • It’s typically in a table format to clearly illustrate which actions align with which values. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by location, such as the classroom, hall, or playground. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by category, such as Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 
  • Behaviors may be listed by levels of achievement. For the behavioral expectation  “organization,” a clean desk might be a level 1. Helping the teacher clean after class might be a level 4 for the advanced organizers out there.

By identifying clear expectations for the whole school, you give students and teachers a shared reason behind their actions. 

How a behavior rubric relates to PBIS and MTSS

PBIS and MTSS are now familiar acronyms for many teachers. And a behavior rubric fits right in with both of these systems.

  • PBIS (or Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) refers to any schoolwide system of teaching and promoting positive behaviors. 
  • A PBIS behavior matrix is essentially a behavior rubric, designed with positive behaviors in mind. 
  • MTSS, or a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework that allows teachers to use data to identify students who need additional behavioral guidance. 

A school-wide behavior rubric helps teachers to implement a tailored behavior support system that fits their school’s needs and values. This format encourages teachers and administrators to think about specific actions they’d like to promote in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or even outside the school walls. 

A teacher runs a PBIS Reward store - with students lined up and one student choosing a reward

Incorporate the rubric into the school culture. 

A rubric in itself is nothing more than a chart of preferred behaviors and values. It’s up to teachers and staff to incorporate it into the daily routine. 

One way of doing this is to consistently reward students when you spot them waiting patiently in line, helping the new kid find their bus, or demonstrating any of the other coveted actions on your list. 

Erika Irwin, Assistant Principal of STEAMM Academy in Canton City, OH, helped support schoolwide behavior goals using the LiveSchool app, which provides a standardized method of rewarding specific actions. Once all grades were using the same reward system, they saw a dramatic difference. 

For us, it just re-emphasized the need for consistent, positive reinforcement, reminding them who they are, why they’re here, that they have a purpose.

With consistent rewards, the rubric became more than just a poster on the classroom wall. It was part of the school identity. 

How does a behavior rubric help students?

Every teacher understands the benefits of a peaceful classroom. But an effective rubric can also help students understand the reasons behind the rules, and create a sense of community and shared goals. 

Shauna Kreuger of Kingsway Elementary in Charlotte County, FL noticed a difference in their student body once they implemented a point system with LiveSchool to reward good behavior. 

The kids know what’s expected. When they come into classrooms, they’re working to earn those points and they know what’s going to earn them points.

They always knew they were expected to raise a hand and let others answer questions. With a standard reward system and behavior rubric, they understand why. A raised hand might be on the list of good behaviors that represent the school’s value of “respect,” and earns them points whether they’re in Math or homeroom.

Students dancing in a circle at a House party, with half of the students shown wearing an orange House shirt, and the others wearing a blue House shirt

The right behavior rubric will bring results. 

An effective rubric and behavior reward system can lead to some pretty big changes. Cherri Byford, a school counselor at Darby Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, noticed that disciplinary actions went down over 60% once the school started consistently rewarding behaviors with LiveSchool. Fewer students require summer school and test scores have even improved. 

And at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, D.C., school administrators saw a 40% drop in suspensions after supporting their behavior expectations with LiveSchool. They went from having one of the highest suspension rates in their district, to one of the lowest. 

But 7th-grade Assistant Principal Louise Lewis points out that the change went beyond numbers for Kelly Miller.

The piece that is most exciting for us as a school is being able to see the improvement in the overall culture and climate in the building.
Students raising their hands enthusiastically

What does your behavior rubric look like? Share your examples with us! Post a photo of your rubric on Facebook or Instagram and tag @whyliveschool. Once you share it we'll add it to our growing database of Behavior Rubric examples.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

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There are plenty of student reward ideas out there to help schools encourage positive behaviors. But these one-off rewards fall short if they’re not paired with a school-wide behavior rubric. 

Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is key to a successful PBIS program. The behavior rubric provides that consistency for students.

If you’re interested in developing a behavior rubric (also known as PBIS matrix) for your school, here are a few of the basics to help you get a big step closer to engaged and happy students. 

Students work at a table in the foreground, while a student is shown choosing a point from the behavior rubric on a smartboard in the background

What is a behavior rubric? 

A behavior rubric outlines the school’s core values, and identifies behaviors that support each value. For elementary and middle schools, there are usually a few key elements:

  • It’s typically in a table format to clearly illustrate which actions align with which values. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by location, such as the classroom, hall, or playground. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by category, such as Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 
  • Behaviors may be listed by levels of achievement. For the behavioral expectation  “organization,” a clean desk might be a level 1. Helping the teacher clean after class might be a level 4 for the advanced organizers out there.

By identifying clear expectations for the whole school, you give students and teachers a shared reason behind their actions. 

How a behavior rubric relates to PBIS and MTSS

PBIS and MTSS are now familiar acronyms for many teachers. And a behavior rubric fits right in with both of these systems.

  • PBIS (or Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) refers to any schoolwide system of teaching and promoting positive behaviors. 
  • A PBIS behavior matrix is essentially a behavior rubric, designed with positive behaviors in mind. 
  • MTSS, or a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework that allows teachers to use data to identify students who need additional behavioral guidance. 

A school-wide behavior rubric helps teachers to implement a tailored behavior support system that fits their school’s needs and values. This format encourages teachers and administrators to think about specific actions they’d like to promote in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or even outside the school walls. 

A teacher runs a PBIS Reward store - with students lined up and one student choosing a reward

Incorporate the rubric into the school culture. 

A rubric in itself is nothing more than a chart of preferred behaviors and values. It’s up to teachers and staff to incorporate it into the daily routine. 

One way of doing this is to consistently reward students when you spot them waiting patiently in line, helping the new kid find their bus, or demonstrating any of the other coveted actions on your list. 

Erika Irwin, Assistant Principal of STEAMM Academy in Canton City, OH, helped support schoolwide behavior goals using the LiveSchool app, which provides a standardized method of rewarding specific actions. Once all grades were using the same reward system, they saw a dramatic difference. 

For us, it just re-emphasized the need for consistent, positive reinforcement, reminding them who they are, why they’re here, that they have a purpose.

With consistent rewards, the rubric became more than just a poster on the classroom wall. It was part of the school identity. 

How does a behavior rubric help students?

Every teacher understands the benefits of a peaceful classroom. But an effective rubric can also help students understand the reasons behind the rules, and create a sense of community and shared goals. 

Shauna Kreuger of Kingsway Elementary in Charlotte County, FL noticed a difference in their student body once they implemented a point system with LiveSchool to reward good behavior. 

The kids know what’s expected. When they come into classrooms, they’re working to earn those points and they know what’s going to earn them points.

They always knew they were expected to raise a hand and let others answer questions. With a standard reward system and behavior rubric, they understand why. A raised hand might be on the list of good behaviors that represent the school’s value of “respect,” and earns them points whether they’re in Math or homeroom.

Students dancing in a circle at a House party, with half of the students shown wearing an orange House shirt, and the others wearing a blue House shirt

The right behavior rubric will bring results. 

An effective rubric and behavior reward system can lead to some pretty big changes. Cherri Byford, a school counselor at Darby Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, noticed that disciplinary actions went down over 60% once the school started consistently rewarding behaviors with LiveSchool. Fewer students require summer school and test scores have even improved. 

And at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, D.C., school administrators saw a 40% drop in suspensions after supporting their behavior expectations with LiveSchool. They went from having one of the highest suspension rates in their district, to one of the lowest. 

But 7th-grade Assistant Principal Louise Lewis points out that the change went beyond numbers for Kelly Miller.

The piece that is most exciting for us as a school is being able to see the improvement in the overall culture and climate in the building.
Students raising their hands enthusiastically

What does your behavior rubric look like? Share your examples with us! Post a photo of your rubric on Facebook or Instagram and tag @whyliveschool. Once you share it we'll add it to our growing database of Behavior Rubric examples.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

What Is A Behavior Rubric?

Learn what behavior rubrics are, why they are important & how to use them correctly in your school.
By 
The Liveschool Team
 | 
August 13, 2019

There are plenty of student reward ideas out there to help schools encourage positive behaviors. But these one-off rewards fall short if they’re not paired with a school-wide behavior rubric. 

Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is key to a successful PBIS program. The behavior rubric provides that consistency for students.

If you’re interested in developing a behavior rubric (also known as PBIS matrix) for your school, here are a few of the basics to help you get a big step closer to engaged and happy students. 

Students work at a table in the foreground, while a student is shown choosing a point from the behavior rubric on a smartboard in the background

What is a behavior rubric? 

A behavior rubric outlines the school’s core values, and identifies behaviors that support each value. For elementary and middle schools, there are usually a few key elements:

  • It’s typically in a table format to clearly illustrate which actions align with which values. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by location, such as the classroom, hall, or playground. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by category, such as Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 
  • Behaviors may be listed by levels of achievement. For the behavioral expectation  “organization,” a clean desk might be a level 1. Helping the teacher clean after class might be a level 4 for the advanced organizers out there.

By identifying clear expectations for the whole school, you give students and teachers a shared reason behind their actions. 

How a behavior rubric relates to PBIS and MTSS

PBIS and MTSS are now familiar acronyms for many teachers. And a behavior rubric fits right in with both of these systems.

  • PBIS (or Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) refers to any schoolwide system of teaching and promoting positive behaviors. 
  • A PBIS behavior matrix is essentially a behavior rubric, designed with positive behaviors in mind. 
  • MTSS, or a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework that allows teachers to use data to identify students who need additional behavioral guidance. 

A school-wide behavior rubric helps teachers to implement a tailored behavior support system that fits their school’s needs and values. This format encourages teachers and administrators to think about specific actions they’d like to promote in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or even outside the school walls. 

A teacher runs a PBIS Reward store - with students lined up and one student choosing a reward

Incorporate the rubric into the school culture. 

A rubric in itself is nothing more than a chart of preferred behaviors and values. It’s up to teachers and staff to incorporate it into the daily routine. 

One way of doing this is to consistently reward students when you spot them waiting patiently in line, helping the new kid find their bus, or demonstrating any of the other coveted actions on your list. 

Erika Irwin, Assistant Principal of STEAMM Academy in Canton City, OH, helped support schoolwide behavior goals using the LiveSchool app, which provides a standardized method of rewarding specific actions. Once all grades were using the same reward system, they saw a dramatic difference. 

For us, it just re-emphasized the need for consistent, positive reinforcement, reminding them who they are, why they’re here, that they have a purpose.

With consistent rewards, the rubric became more than just a poster on the classroom wall. It was part of the school identity. 

How does a behavior rubric help students?

Every teacher understands the benefits of a peaceful classroom. But an effective rubric can also help students understand the reasons behind the rules, and create a sense of community and shared goals. 

Shauna Kreuger of Kingsway Elementary in Charlotte County, FL noticed a difference in their student body once they implemented a point system with LiveSchool to reward good behavior. 

The kids know what’s expected. When they come into classrooms, they’re working to earn those points and they know what’s going to earn them points.

They always knew they were expected to raise a hand and let others answer questions. With a standard reward system and behavior rubric, they understand why. A raised hand might be on the list of good behaviors that represent the school’s value of “respect,” and earns them points whether they’re in Math or homeroom.

Students dancing in a circle at a House party, with half of the students shown wearing an orange House shirt, and the others wearing a blue House shirt

The right behavior rubric will bring results. 

An effective rubric and behavior reward system can lead to some pretty big changes. Cherri Byford, a school counselor at Darby Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, noticed that disciplinary actions went down over 60% once the school started consistently rewarding behaviors with LiveSchool. Fewer students require summer school and test scores have even improved. 

And at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, D.C., school administrators saw a 40% drop in suspensions after supporting their behavior expectations with LiveSchool. They went from having one of the highest suspension rates in their district, to one of the lowest. 

But 7th-grade Assistant Principal Louise Lewis points out that the change went beyond numbers for Kelly Miller.

The piece that is most exciting for us as a school is being able to see the improvement in the overall culture and climate in the building.
Students raising their hands enthusiastically

What does your behavior rubric look like? Share your examples with us! Post a photo of your rubric on Facebook or Instagram and tag @whyliveschool. Once you share it we'll add it to our growing database of Behavior Rubric examples.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

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Subscribe via Email

Receive the best school culture resources monthly to inspire your planning.

What Is A Behavior Rubric?

Learn what behavior rubrics are, why they are important & how to use them correctly in your school.
By 
The Liveschool Team
 | 
August 13, 2019

About the Event

There are plenty of student reward ideas out there to help schools encourage positive behaviors. But these one-off rewards fall short if they’re not paired with a school-wide behavior rubric. 

Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is key to a successful PBIS program. The behavior rubric provides that consistency for students.

If you’re interested in developing a behavior rubric (also known as PBIS matrix) for your school, here are a few of the basics to help you get a big step closer to engaged and happy students. 

Students work at a table in the foreground, while a student is shown choosing a point from the behavior rubric on a smartboard in the background

What is a behavior rubric? 

A behavior rubric outlines the school’s core values, and identifies behaviors that support each value. For elementary and middle schools, there are usually a few key elements:

  • It’s typically in a table format to clearly illustrate which actions align with which values. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by location, such as the classroom, hall, or playground. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by category, such as Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 
  • Behaviors may be listed by levels of achievement. For the behavioral expectation  “organization,” a clean desk might be a level 1. Helping the teacher clean after class might be a level 4 for the advanced organizers out there.

By identifying clear expectations for the whole school, you give students and teachers a shared reason behind their actions. 

How a behavior rubric relates to PBIS and MTSS

PBIS and MTSS are now familiar acronyms for many teachers. And a behavior rubric fits right in with both of these systems.

  • PBIS (or Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) refers to any schoolwide system of teaching and promoting positive behaviors. 
  • A PBIS behavior matrix is essentially a behavior rubric, designed with positive behaviors in mind. 
  • MTSS, or a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework that allows teachers to use data to identify students who need additional behavioral guidance. 

A school-wide behavior rubric helps teachers to implement a tailored behavior support system that fits their school’s needs and values. This format encourages teachers and administrators to think about specific actions they’d like to promote in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or even outside the school walls. 

A teacher runs a PBIS Reward store - with students lined up and one student choosing a reward

Incorporate the rubric into the school culture. 

A rubric in itself is nothing more than a chart of preferred behaviors and values. It’s up to teachers and staff to incorporate it into the daily routine. 

One way of doing this is to consistently reward students when you spot them waiting patiently in line, helping the new kid find their bus, or demonstrating any of the other coveted actions on your list. 

Erika Irwin, Assistant Principal of STEAMM Academy in Canton City, OH, helped support schoolwide behavior goals using the LiveSchool app, which provides a standardized method of rewarding specific actions. Once all grades were using the same reward system, they saw a dramatic difference. 

For us, it just re-emphasized the need for consistent, positive reinforcement, reminding them who they are, why they’re here, that they have a purpose.

With consistent rewards, the rubric became more than just a poster on the classroom wall. It was part of the school identity. 

How does a behavior rubric help students?

Every teacher understands the benefits of a peaceful classroom. But an effective rubric can also help students understand the reasons behind the rules, and create a sense of community and shared goals. 

Shauna Kreuger of Kingsway Elementary in Charlotte County, FL noticed a difference in their student body once they implemented a point system with LiveSchool to reward good behavior. 

The kids know what’s expected. When they come into classrooms, they’re working to earn those points and they know what’s going to earn them points.

They always knew they were expected to raise a hand and let others answer questions. With a standard reward system and behavior rubric, they understand why. A raised hand might be on the list of good behaviors that represent the school’s value of “respect,” and earns them points whether they’re in Math or homeroom.

Students dancing in a circle at a House party, with half of the students shown wearing an orange House shirt, and the others wearing a blue House shirt

The right behavior rubric will bring results. 

An effective rubric and behavior reward system can lead to some pretty big changes. Cherri Byford, a school counselor at Darby Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, noticed that disciplinary actions went down over 60% once the school started consistently rewarding behaviors with LiveSchool. Fewer students require summer school and test scores have even improved. 

And at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, D.C., school administrators saw a 40% drop in suspensions after supporting their behavior expectations with LiveSchool. They went from having one of the highest suspension rates in their district, to one of the lowest. 

But 7th-grade Assistant Principal Louise Lewis points out that the change went beyond numbers for Kelly Miller.

The piece that is most exciting for us as a school is being able to see the improvement in the overall culture and climate in the building.
Students raising their hands enthusiastically

What does your behavior rubric look like? Share your examples with us! Post a photo of your rubric on Facebook or Instagram and tag @whyliveschool. Once you share it we'll add it to our growing database of Behavior Rubric examples.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

Register Now

About the Event

There are plenty of student reward ideas out there to help schools encourage positive behaviors. But these one-off rewards fall short if they’re not paired with a school-wide behavior rubric. 

Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is key to a successful PBIS program. The behavior rubric provides that consistency for students.

If you’re interested in developing a behavior rubric (also known as PBIS matrix) for your school, here are a few of the basics to help you get a big step closer to engaged and happy students. 

Students work at a table in the foreground, while a student is shown choosing a point from the behavior rubric on a smartboard in the background

What is a behavior rubric? 

A behavior rubric outlines the school’s core values, and identifies behaviors that support each value. For elementary and middle schools, there are usually a few key elements:

  • It’s typically in a table format to clearly illustrate which actions align with which values. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by location, such as the classroom, hall, or playground. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by category, such as Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 
  • Behaviors may be listed by levels of achievement. For the behavioral expectation  “organization,” a clean desk might be a level 1. Helping the teacher clean after class might be a level 4 for the advanced organizers out there.

By identifying clear expectations for the whole school, you give students and teachers a shared reason behind their actions. 

How a behavior rubric relates to PBIS and MTSS

PBIS and MTSS are now familiar acronyms for many teachers. And a behavior rubric fits right in with both of these systems.

  • PBIS (or Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) refers to any schoolwide system of teaching and promoting positive behaviors. 
  • A PBIS behavior matrix is essentially a behavior rubric, designed with positive behaviors in mind. 
  • MTSS, or a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework that allows teachers to use data to identify students who need additional behavioral guidance. 

A school-wide behavior rubric helps teachers to implement a tailored behavior support system that fits their school’s needs and values. This format encourages teachers and administrators to think about specific actions they’d like to promote in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or even outside the school walls. 

A teacher runs a PBIS Reward store - with students lined up and one student choosing a reward

Incorporate the rubric into the school culture. 

A rubric in itself is nothing more than a chart of preferred behaviors and values. It’s up to teachers and staff to incorporate it into the daily routine. 

One way of doing this is to consistently reward students when you spot them waiting patiently in line, helping the new kid find their bus, or demonstrating any of the other coveted actions on your list. 

Erika Irwin, Assistant Principal of STEAMM Academy in Canton City, OH, helped support schoolwide behavior goals using the LiveSchool app, which provides a standardized method of rewarding specific actions. Once all grades were using the same reward system, they saw a dramatic difference. 

For us, it just re-emphasized the need for consistent, positive reinforcement, reminding them who they are, why they’re here, that they have a purpose.

With consistent rewards, the rubric became more than just a poster on the classroom wall. It was part of the school identity. 

How does a behavior rubric help students?

Every teacher understands the benefits of a peaceful classroom. But an effective rubric can also help students understand the reasons behind the rules, and create a sense of community and shared goals. 

Shauna Kreuger of Kingsway Elementary in Charlotte County, FL noticed a difference in their student body once they implemented a point system with LiveSchool to reward good behavior. 

The kids know what’s expected. When they come into classrooms, they’re working to earn those points and they know what’s going to earn them points.

They always knew they were expected to raise a hand and let others answer questions. With a standard reward system and behavior rubric, they understand why. A raised hand might be on the list of good behaviors that represent the school’s value of “respect,” and earns them points whether they’re in Math or homeroom.

Students dancing in a circle at a House party, with half of the students shown wearing an orange House shirt, and the others wearing a blue House shirt

The right behavior rubric will bring results. 

An effective rubric and behavior reward system can lead to some pretty big changes. Cherri Byford, a school counselor at Darby Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, noticed that disciplinary actions went down over 60% once the school started consistently rewarding behaviors with LiveSchool. Fewer students require summer school and test scores have even improved. 

And at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, D.C., school administrators saw a 40% drop in suspensions after supporting their behavior expectations with LiveSchool. They went from having one of the highest suspension rates in their district, to one of the lowest. 

But 7th-grade Assistant Principal Louise Lewis points out that the change went beyond numbers for Kelly Miller.

The piece that is most exciting for us as a school is being able to see the improvement in the overall culture and climate in the building.
Students raising their hands enthusiastically

What does your behavior rubric look like? Share your examples with us! Post a photo of your rubric on Facebook or Instagram and tag @whyliveschool. Once you share it we'll add it to our growing database of Behavior Rubric examples.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

About the Presenter

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What Is A Behavior Rubric?

Learn what behavior rubrics are, why they are important & how to use them correctly in your school.
By 
The Liveschool Team
 | 
August 13, 2019

Teachers are always looking for creative ways to encourage a room full of antsy kids to stay engaged in the lesson.(And reward those who do.) Enter the behavior rubric.

There are plenty of student reward ideas out there to help schools encourage positive behaviors. But these one-off rewards fall short if they’re not paired with a school-wide behavior rubric. 

Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is key to a successful PBIS program. The behavior rubric provides that consistency for students.

If you’re interested in developing a behavior rubric (also known as PBIS matrix) for your school, here are a few of the basics to help you get a big step closer to engaged and happy students. 

Students work at a table in the foreground, while a student is shown choosing a point from the behavior rubric on a smartboard in the background

What is a behavior rubric? 

A behavior rubric outlines the school’s core values, and identifies behaviors that support each value. For elementary and middle schools, there are usually a few key elements:

  • It’s typically in a table format to clearly illustrate which actions align with which values. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by location, such as the classroom, hall, or playground. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by category, such as Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 
  • Behaviors may be listed by levels of achievement. For the behavioral expectation  “organization,” a clean desk might be a level 1. Helping the teacher clean after class might be a level 4 for the advanced organizers out there.

By identifying clear expectations for the whole school, you give students and teachers a shared reason behind their actions. 

How a behavior rubric relates to PBIS and MTSS

PBIS and MTSS are now familiar acronyms for many teachers. And a behavior rubric fits right in with both of these systems.

  • PBIS (or Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) refers to any schoolwide system of teaching and promoting positive behaviors. 
  • A PBIS behavior matrix is essentially a behavior rubric, designed with positive behaviors in mind. 
  • MTSS, or a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework that allows teachers to use data to identify students who need additional behavioral guidance. 

A school-wide behavior rubric helps teachers to implement a tailored behavior support system that fits their school’s needs and values. This format encourages teachers and administrators to think about specific actions they’d like to promote in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or even outside the school walls. 

A teacher runs a PBIS Reward store - with students lined up and one student choosing a reward

Incorporate the rubric into the school culture. 

A rubric in itself is nothing more than a chart of preferred behaviors and values. It’s up to teachers and staff to incorporate it into the daily routine. 

One way of doing this is to consistently reward students when you spot them waiting patiently in line, helping the new kid find their bus, or demonstrating any of the other coveted actions on your list. 

Erika Irwin, Assistant Principal of STEAMM Academy in Canton City, OH, helped support schoolwide behavior goals using the LiveSchool app, which provides a standardized method of rewarding specific actions. Once all grades were using the same reward system, they saw a dramatic difference. 

For us, it just re-emphasized the need for consistent, positive reinforcement, reminding them who they are, why they’re here, that they have a purpose.

With consistent rewards, the rubric became more than just a poster on the classroom wall. It was part of the school identity. 

How does a behavior rubric help students?

Every teacher understands the benefits of a peaceful classroom. But an effective rubric can also help students understand the reasons behind the rules, and create a sense of community and shared goals. 

Shauna Kreuger of Kingsway Elementary in Charlotte County, FL noticed a difference in their student body once they implemented a point system with LiveSchool to reward good behavior. 

The kids know what’s expected. When they come into classrooms, they’re working to earn those points and they know what’s going to earn them points.

They always knew they were expected to raise a hand and let others answer questions. With a standard reward system and behavior rubric, they understand why. A raised hand might be on the list of good behaviors that represent the school’s value of “respect,” and earns them points whether they’re in Math or homeroom.

Students dancing in a circle at a House party, with half of the students shown wearing an orange House shirt, and the others wearing a blue House shirt

The right behavior rubric will bring results. 

An effective rubric and behavior reward system can lead to some pretty big changes. Cherri Byford, a school counselor at Darby Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, noticed that disciplinary actions went down over 60% once the school started consistently rewarding behaviors with LiveSchool. Fewer students require summer school and test scores have even improved. 

And at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, D.C., school administrators saw a 40% drop in suspensions after supporting their behavior expectations with LiveSchool. They went from having one of the highest suspension rates in their district, to one of the lowest. 

But 7th-grade Assistant Principal Louise Lewis points out that the change went beyond numbers for Kelly Miller.

The piece that is most exciting for us as a school is being able to see the improvement in the overall culture and climate in the building.
Students raising their hands enthusiastically

What does your behavior rubric look like? Share your examples with us! Post a photo of your rubric on Facebook or Instagram and tag @whyliveschool. Once you share it we'll add it to our growing database of Behavior Rubric examples.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

All Reward Ideas for Students

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Get-to-Know-You Bingo
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
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Snack Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
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Teacher Serenade
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
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Meet the Teacher
Grades K-8
School
Event
Free
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Virtual Field Trip
Grades K-12
Class/House
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Free
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Glow Party
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Deluxe
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Silent Disco
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
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School Assembly
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
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Snowball Fights (& Popsicles!)
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Awards Show Afterparty
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Movie Night
Grades 9-12
Student
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Holidays Around the World
Grades K-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Hat Pass
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Old School Cookout
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
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🎁
Water Bottle Stickers
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
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Uber by a Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Reward Ideas for Elementary School Students

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🎁
Toys
Grades K-8
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
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Stuffed Animal in Class
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
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🎁
Snacks
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Morning Meeting Leader
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
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🎁
Play Games
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
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🎁
Free Dress
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
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🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
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Final Fridays
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Loudspeaker Shoutout
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Movie Posters
Grades 3-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
School Assembly
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Wristband
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Student Messenger
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Special Screening
Grades K-12
School
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Tech Time
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Free Reward Ideas for Schools

All Reward Ideas for High School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Locker Choice
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Backpack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Music Fest
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Video Game Rewards
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Serenade
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Technology
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Field Trip
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
The Big Ticket
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Sweatshirt
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Homework Pass
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Pie a Teacher
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
School Supplies & Merch
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Loudspeaker Shoutout
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
The A-List
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Firebird of the Month
Grades K-12
Student
Event
Low Cost/DIY

All Reward Ideas for Middle School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Cut the Principal’s Tie
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Video Game Rewards
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Dance Party
Grades K-12
Student
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Uber by a Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Drop Lowest Quiz
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
School Spirit Day
Grades K-12
School
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Family Feast
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Snacks
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Holiday Delivery
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Technology
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Hallway High-Five
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Student Reward & Incentive Ideas

💰
🎨
Extra Reading Time
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Pen Pouch
Grades K-8
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Assist the Custodian.
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Video Game Rewards
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Movie Posters
Grades 3-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Dress Up or Down Day
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Snack Pack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Teacher for the Day
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Design the Bulletin Board
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Silly Science Experiments
Grades K-5
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Uber by a Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Color a Teacher’s Hair
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Hallway High-Five
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Early Lunch Dismissal
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Sports Tickets
Grades 3-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe

All Virtual Reward Ideas for Schools

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👑
🎁
Virtual Field Trip
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
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👑
🎁
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Student Spotlight Board
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Stickers
Grades K-5
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Morning Meeting Leader
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
See all Rewards

Want more ideas?

Rewards that Rock 🎸 has 100+ rewards, incentives, and event ideas to build your school culture.
Find Rewards
Learn more about the author, 
The Liveschool Team
 

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What Is A Behavior Rubric?

Learn what behavior rubrics are, why they are important & how to use them correctly in your school.
By 
The Liveschool Team
 | 
August 13, 2019

Teachers are always looking for creative ways to encourage a room full of antsy kids to stay engaged in the lesson.(And reward those who do.) Enter the behavior rubric.

There are plenty of student reward ideas out there to help schools encourage positive behaviors. But these one-off rewards fall short if they’re not paired with a school-wide behavior rubric. 

Consistency from class to class and adult to adult is key to a successful PBIS program. The behavior rubric provides that consistency for students.

If you’re interested in developing a behavior rubric (also known as PBIS matrix) for your school, here are a few of the basics to help you get a big step closer to engaged and happy students. 

Students work at a table in the foreground, while a student is shown choosing a point from the behavior rubric on a smartboard in the background

What is a behavior rubric? 

A behavior rubric outlines the school’s core values, and identifies behaviors that support each value. For elementary and middle schools, there are usually a few key elements:

  • It’s typically in a table format to clearly illustrate which actions align with which values. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by location, such as the classroom, hall, or playground. 
  • Some rubrics organize behaviors by category, such as Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 
  • Behaviors may be listed by levels of achievement. For the behavioral expectation  “organization,” a clean desk might be a level 1. Helping the teacher clean after class might be a level 4 for the advanced organizers out there.

By identifying clear expectations for the whole school, you give students and teachers a shared reason behind their actions. 

How a behavior rubric relates to PBIS and MTSS

PBIS and MTSS are now familiar acronyms for many teachers. And a behavior rubric fits right in with both of these systems.

  • PBIS (or Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) refers to any schoolwide system of teaching and promoting positive behaviors. 
  • A PBIS behavior matrix is essentially a behavior rubric, designed with positive behaviors in mind. 
  • MTSS, or a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework that allows teachers to use data to identify students who need additional behavioral guidance. 

A school-wide behavior rubric helps teachers to implement a tailored behavior support system that fits their school’s needs and values. This format encourages teachers and administrators to think about specific actions they’d like to promote in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or even outside the school walls. 

A teacher runs a PBIS Reward store - with students lined up and one student choosing a reward

Incorporate the rubric into the school culture. 

A rubric in itself is nothing more than a chart of preferred behaviors and values. It’s up to teachers and staff to incorporate it into the daily routine. 

One way of doing this is to consistently reward students when you spot them waiting patiently in line, helping the new kid find their bus, or demonstrating any of the other coveted actions on your list. 

Erika Irwin, Assistant Principal of STEAMM Academy in Canton City, OH, helped support schoolwide behavior goals using the LiveSchool app, which provides a standardized method of rewarding specific actions. Once all grades were using the same reward system, they saw a dramatic difference. 

For us, it just re-emphasized the need for consistent, positive reinforcement, reminding them who they are, why they’re here, that they have a purpose.

With consistent rewards, the rubric became more than just a poster on the classroom wall. It was part of the school identity. 

How does a behavior rubric help students?

Every teacher understands the benefits of a peaceful classroom. But an effective rubric can also help students understand the reasons behind the rules, and create a sense of community and shared goals. 

Shauna Kreuger of Kingsway Elementary in Charlotte County, FL noticed a difference in their student body once they implemented a point system with LiveSchool to reward good behavior. 

The kids know what’s expected. When they come into classrooms, they’re working to earn those points and they know what’s going to earn them points.

They always knew they were expected to raise a hand and let others answer questions. With a standard reward system and behavior rubric, they understand why. A raised hand might be on the list of good behaviors that represent the school’s value of “respect,” and earns them points whether they’re in Math or homeroom.

Students dancing in a circle at a House party, with half of the students shown wearing an orange House shirt, and the others wearing a blue House shirt

The right behavior rubric will bring results. 

An effective rubric and behavior reward system can lead to some pretty big changes. Cherri Byford, a school counselor at Darby Junior High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas, noticed that disciplinary actions went down over 60% once the school started consistently rewarding behaviors with LiveSchool. Fewer students require summer school and test scores have even improved. 

And at Kelly Miller Middle School in Washington, D.C., school administrators saw a 40% drop in suspensions after supporting their behavior expectations with LiveSchool. They went from having one of the highest suspension rates in their district, to one of the lowest. 

But 7th-grade Assistant Principal Louise Lewis points out that the change went beyond numbers for Kelly Miller.

The piece that is most exciting for us as a school is being able to see the improvement in the overall culture and climate in the building.
Students raising their hands enthusiastically

What does your behavior rubric look like? Share your examples with us! Post a photo of your rubric on Facebook or Instagram and tag @whyliveschool. Once you share it we'll add it to our growing database of Behavior Rubric examples.

Want to really improve behavior in your elementary school? You should start by evaluating your elementary behavior rubric.

All Reward Ideas for Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Cut the Principal’s Tie
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Movie Night
Grades 9-12
Student
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Game of Thrones
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Stickers
Grades K-5
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Seat Swap
Grades 3-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Technology
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Hat Pass
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Wild ‘N Out High School Edition
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Concert
Grades 6-8
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
House Induction
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Blood Drive
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Special Pen
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY

All Reward Ideas for Elementary School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
School Supplies & Merch
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
STEM Field Day
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Ice Cream Sundae Party
Grades K-12
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Career Day
Grades 3-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Dance Party
Grades K-12
Student
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Design the Bulletin Board
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Trunk or Treat
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch With the Teacher
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Play Games
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Final Fridays
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Backpack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Family Feast
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Deluxe

All Event Ideas for Schools

All Free Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
Parking Spots
🎉
👑
🎁
School Spirit Day
🎉
👑
🎁
Operate Equipment.
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
🎉
👑
🎁
Student Messenger
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Concert
🎉
👑
🎁
Art Contest
🎉
👑
🎁
Dance Party
🎉
👑
🎁
Hallway High-Five
🎉
👑
🎁
Seating Choice
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Fast Pass
🎉
👑
🎁
Tech Time

All Reward Ideas for High School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Dress Up or Down Day
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Partner Work
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Amazing Race
Grades 9-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Reservations
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Early Lunch Dismissal
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Career Day
Grades 3-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Kickback Vibes
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Holiday Classroom Carousel
Grades 9-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher for the Day
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Technology
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Be a Comedian.
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Reward Ideas for Middle School Students

🎉
👑
🎁
Principal for a Day
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Food-Themed Party
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Picnic Lunch
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Lunch Concert
Grades 6-8
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Final Fridays
Grades K-8
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Toys
Grades K-8
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Family Feast
Grades K-8
Class/House
Event
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Snack Pack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Homework Pass
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
The A-List
Grades 6-12
School
Event
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Technology
Grades 6-12
Student
Tangible
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Emcee the Announcements
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free

All Student Reward & Incentive Ideas

💰
🎨
Line Leader
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Lunch With the Teacher
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Principal for a Day
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Operate Equipment.
Grades 9-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Special Pen
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Assist the Custodian.
Grades 6-8
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Drop Lowest Quiz
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Snack Pack
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Partner Work
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Snack Party
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
💰
🎨
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Uber by a Principal
Grades 6-12
Student
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Teacher Q&A
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
💰
🎨
Books
Grades K-12
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY

All Virtual Reward Ideas for Schools

🎉
👑
🎁
Host a Virtual Party. 🎶
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Classroom DJ
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Stickers
Grades K-5
Student
Tangible
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Brain Break
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Extra Computer Games
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Digital Escape Rooms
Grades 6-12
Class/House
Privilege
Deluxe
🎉
👑
🎁
Certificate of Achievement
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Donate $1
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Show & Tell
Grades K-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Podcast
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Student Spotlight Board
Grades K-5
Student
Privilege
Low Cost/DIY
🎉
👑
🎁
Positive Note or Call Home
Grades K-12
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Field Trip
Grades K-12
Class/House
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Virtual Talent Show. 🎤
Grades 3-12
Class/House
Event
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Morning Meeting Leader
Grades 3-8
Student
Privilege
Free
🎉
👑
🎁
Social Media Reporter
Grades 3-12
Student
Privilege
Free
See all Rewards

Want more ideas?

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