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Behavior Boosters

Lesson Plan

Booster Mini-Lessons

Equip 8th grade teachers to deliver ten focused 5-minute “boosters” over two weeks, each reinforcing a quick positive behavior strategy or reflection.

Short, daily mini-lessons help students internalize and practice specific reinforcement techniques, sustaining motivation and building a positive classroom culture over time.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

10 sessions (5 minutes each)

Approach

Ten 5-minute daily micro-boosters.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

5 minutes

Step 1

Day 1: Warm-Up Thumbs-Up Prompt

5 minutes

  • Display the Thumbs-Up Prompt.
  • Explain target positive behaviors and model giving a thumbs-up.
  • Invite students to practice and call out which behavior they’ll watch for first.

Step 2

Day 2: Strategy 1 – Specific Praise

5 minutes

  • Show slide “1. Specific Praise” from the Quick Boost Slides.
  • Discuss how naming exact actions strengthens behavior.
  • Ask: “How does it feel when you receive specific praise?”

Step 3

Day 3: Strategy 2 – Behavior Captions

5 minutes

  • Show slide “2. Behavior Captions” from the Quick Boost Slides.
  • Model “catching in the act” by labeling a peer’s positive action.
  • Prompt students: “Which behavior will you caption today?”

Step 4

Day 4: Strategy 3 – Token Tickets

5 minutes

  • Show slide “3. Token Tickets” from the Quick Boost Slides.
  • Explain how tickets reward consistent behaviors.
  • Have students brainstorm one behavior they’d like to earn a ticket for.

Step 5

Day 5: Strategy 4 – Peer Shout-Outs

5 minutes

  • Show slide “4. Peer Shout-Outs” from the Quick Boost Slides.
  • Invite pairs to give each other a quick shout-out.
  • Ask: “Who will you recognize today and why?”

Step 6

Day 6: Strategy 5 – Visual Reminders

5 minutes

  • Show slide “5. Visual Reminders” from the Quick Boost Slides.
  • Introduce simple cue cards or signals (thumbs-up, charts).
  • Challenge students to choose one visual reminder to use this week.

Step 7

Day 7: Activity Prep & Demo – High-Five Hustle Rules

5 minutes

  • Explain the High-Five Hustle and its goal: noticing positives and giving high-fives with praise.
  • Demonstrate with a volunteer: “High-five, Alex—great focus!”
  • Arrange space and distribute any cards or stickers.

Step 8

Day 8: Activity – High-Five Hustle

5 minutes

  • Signal students to begin circulating and spotting positives.
  • Each high-five must include a brief compliment or noting the behavior.
  • Teacher circulates, models praise language, and hands out cards if used.

Step 9

Day 9: Reflection – Shout-Outs & Feelings

5 minutes

  • Display the first two prompts from Reflection Shout-Out:
    1. Which peer did you recognize, and what behavior?
    2. How did it feel to give or receive a shout-out?
  • Invite 3–4 volunteers to share responses.

Step 10

Day 10: Reflection & Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Display the final prompt from [Reflection Shout
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Slide Deck

Quick Boost: Positive Reinforcement

Welcome! In this mini-lesson, you will:
• Discover 5 easy reinforcement strategies
• See real classroom examples
• Reflect on how these strategies feel and work for you

Welcome students! Today, we’ll explore five quick reinforcement strategies you can use right away to celebrate positive behaviors and stay motivated.

1. Specific Praise

• Call out the exact behavior you want to reinforce.
• Example: “Great job, Carlos, for solving that step so clearly!”
• Reflection: How does it feel when someone praises you specifically?

Explain that specific praise means naming exactly what was done correctly. Model with a volunteer: “Sarah, I love how you organized your notes in neat bullet points.”

2. Behavior Captions

• Label positive actions as you see them.
• Example: “I notice Mia raising her hand before speaking—awesome patience!”
• Reflection: What positive action will you caption today?

Introduce behavior captions as “catching in the act.” Show enthusiasm and point out a student’s positive action in real time.

3. Token Tickets

• Give tickets for desired behaviors (on-time work, helping peers).
• Example: “You just earned a ticket for completing your homework quietly.”
• Reflection: Which behavior do you want to earn a ticket for now?

Explain the token tickets system: small rewards that add up. Describe how tickets can be redeemed for privileges or small prizes.

4. Peer Shout-Outs

• Let students highlight classmates’ efforts.
• Example: “Shout-out to Jamal for explaining that math problem to a friend!”
• Reflection: Who will you give a shout-out to today and why?

Discuss peer shout-outs and model inviting students to recognize each other. Encourage brief, genuine compliments.

5. Visual Reminders

• Use visuals to prompt or reward behavior instantly.
• Example: Hold up a thumbs-up card when someone shows active listening.
• Reflection: Which visual reminder could help you stay focused?

Describe visual reminders (cards, charts, signals) that cue positive behavior. Show a sample thumbs-up or behavior chart.

Next Steps & Reflection

• Pick one strategy to try in class this week.
• Pair-share: How will you implement it?
• Reflection: Which strategy will you try first, and why?

Wrap up by asking students to choose one strategy to apply this week. Encourage sharing with a partner or writing a quick plan.

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Warm Up

Warm-Up: Thumbs-Up Prompt

Purpose: Quickly tune into positive behaviors and set a tone of recognition.

Instructions for Students:

  1. Watch and listen for any of the target positive behaviors below.
  2. The moment you see or perform one, give a big thumbs-up.
  3. Keep your eyes open—let’s catch as many positive actions as we can!

Target Behaviors to Watch For:
• Raising your hand before speaking
• Helping a classmate quietly
• Staying focused on your work
• Showing respect with kind words or actions

Teacher Note: Display this prompt visually where everyone can see. Model a thumbs-up as you describe each behavior. Give students a few practice turns.

Reflection (optional): Which one of these behaviors will you try to do or notice first today?




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Activity

Activity: High-Five Hustle

Purpose: Get students moving and noticing peers’ positive behaviors by exchanging high-fives and affirmations.

Time: 10 minutes

Materials & Setup:

  • Clear an open space in the classroom (move desks or chairs to the sides)
  • (Optional) High-five cards or stickers to hand out when praise is given

Instructions for Students:

  1. Explain that during the Hustle, your goal is to spot any classmate doing something positive—raising their hand, helping quietly, showing respect, staying on task—and give them a high-five and a quick verbal praise.
  2. Demonstrate with one volunteer: teacher models, “High-five, Alex—great focus on your work!”
  3. On your signal, students stand up, circulate the room, and look for positive behaviors.
  4. Each time you give a high-five, also say a brief compliment or note what you observed.
  5. Keep moving for 5–7 minutes, aiming to give at least three high-fives and hear three back.

Teacher Tips:

  • Circulate alongside students, modeling specific praise and handing out cards if you’re using them.
  • Encourage students to vary compliments (“I noticed you…,” “I appreciate how you…”).
  • If energy dips, pause briefly to ask for a volunteer share: “Who just gave a great praise?”
  • Close with a quick reflection or group cheer to celebrate the positive energy.



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Cool Down

Cool-Down: Reflection Shout-Out

Purpose: Solidify today’s learning by celebrating peer recognition and planning your next positive reinforcement move.

  1. Which peer did you recognize today, and what positive behavior did you call out?



  1. How did it feel to give or receive a shout-out?






  1. Which reinforcement strategy will you try next week, and why?






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