Stop unwanted behavior such as talking in class with negative reinforcers such as time-out, by removing a previously merited positive reinforcement, a firm reprimand with close eye contact or restitution. An example of restitution is to make a student clean the whole blackboard if he has written on it without permission. Negative reinforcers reduce or stop distractions in the class so students can focus and learn the material at hand.
Use positive practice to modify a student's unwanted behavior. When a student barges into your classroom late with no apology, for example, request that the student go back to the classroom entrance and enter the room properly with an apology. The student should then come back into the room quietly and respectfully and apologize to the teacher for being late.
Explain why a student's behavior is not acceptable at the time you use a negative reinforcement. If a student gets out of his seat without permission, for example, it may distract other students who are focused on learning their class lessons. Remind the student of the proper and accepted behaviors such as raising her hand to ask permission to leave her seat or to go to the bathroom.
Use operant conditioning by utilizing the Lee Canter's card system. Students receive red, yellow and green cards. When a student's behavior is heading toward unacceptable, he loses his green card and goes to yellow, and if he significantly misbehaves, he is down to his red card. At the end of the week the students receive 25 minutes of free time if they managed not to get down to their red cards. Free time includes rewards such as outdoor play, time on the computer and playing games.
Use a ticket system as a positive reinforcer. Students receive tickets for doing their homework, for example, and then trade in their tickets for a snack treat, lunch with their teacher or a small prize. The students should behave better without so many tickets by the end of the year. Other positive reinforcers include certificates that say "good job" or "well done." Catch a student behaving well and praise him verbally in front of the other students.