Teaching replacement behaviors in the classroom requires more than naming the skill you want to see. Students need clear, concrete steps they can follow in real time. This article introduces the Behavior Response Flow™ and explains how to break abstract expectations into observable, teachable actions. With a detailed example and guidance on adjusting for age and skill level, you’ll learn how to replace disruptive behavior by explicitly teaching students what to do instead.

Managing defiant behavior in the classroom isn’t about control or compliance, it’s about skill. When students don’t know how to protest appropriately, defiance becomes their loudest language. Teaching students how to disagree respectfully can change the tone of an entire classroom.