Online Courses for Teachers

Proactive Strategies for Middle and High School Behavior Management

(Grades 6-12) / Flex Course

PDI Course Number: 172T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC42654

Course Description

Have you ever wondered why managing student behavior in middle and high school classrooms feels more challenging now than ever before? This online course for teachers equips middle and high school educators with the knowledge and strategies to navigate today’s complex classroom behaviors. Grounded in research on adolescent development, social-emotional learning, and the science of behavior, the course helps teachers understand why students act out and how to respond effectively. Participants will explore practical approaches to setting clear expectations, fostering strong relationships, and building students’ emotional intelligence. Special emphasis is placed on addressing disruptive behaviors such as defiance, cell phone misuse, bullying, and lack of engagement, while also highlighting the importance of empathy, restorative practices, and open communication. Teachers will learn how to identify the functions of behavior, implement behavior intervention plans (BIPs), and use proactive strategies to support students’ mental health and executive functioning. By the end of this continuing education course, teachers will walk away with a toolkit of evidence-based strategies to increase student motivation, improve classroom climate, foster positive student-teacher interactions, and ultimately create a learning environment where every student feels valued, respected, and engaged. This online professional development course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from University of California San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies. For detailed information on receiving university credit for your PDI professional development course, visit our credit page.

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