When Reinforcement Backfires

As special education teachers, we rely on reinforcement every day—it's how we help students build new skills and reduce challenging behaviors. But what happens when reinforcement backfires?

In this week’s Teach, Task Box, Inspire episode, we’re diving into this exact issue. I’m sharing some of the most common ways reinforcement backfires in our classrooms—and how to tell when your system isn’t working the way you hoped.

Spoiler alert: reinforcement isn't just stickers or token boards. It’s any response that makes a behavior more likely to happen again. That means if a student is repeating a behavior you don’t want to see, there’s a good chance reinforcement is happening in the wrong direction. Yup, reinforcement backfires when we accidentally strengthen the very behaviors we’re trying to decrease.

In the episode, I break down:

• Why reinforcement backfires (and how to spot it early)
• Real examples from the classroom (and a few personal ones!)
• Two major red flags that your reinforcement plan needs tweaking

If you’ve ever felt stuck with a behavior plan, or wondered why your students aren’t responding the way you expected—this is a must-listen. Let’s fix those systems and make reinforcement work for us, not against us.

Listen now and take one step closer to behavior plans that actually get results.

Episode Highlights:

• Why reinforcement is the backbone of behavior change—and what happens when it's done incorrectly.
• How unintentional reinforcement of negative behavior can derail your classroom management.
• The two biggest clues that your reinforcement system isn’t working.
• Simple strategies for identifying real reinforcers that actually work for your students.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free training: 3 Simple and Powerful Ways to Cultivate Independence in Your Special Education Classroom
  

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More About Teach, Task Box, Inspire: The Podcast:

Teach, Task Box, Inspire: The Podcast is your go-to educational podcast dedicated to making your job as a special education teacher easier and more enjoyable. Your host, Lisa Hollady, is a veteran special education teacher with a passion for helping teachers like you make a real difference in the lives of your students.

In your demanding roles, you’re constantly juggling various responsibilities, from differentiated instruction and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to data collection, and, of course, teaching. That’s where task boxes come in.

Task boxes aren’t just teaching tools. They’re the key to unlocking student independence, student engagement, and personalized learning. Through this podcast, you’ll uncover the incredible task box benefits for your special needs students and practical implementation tips that you can take to your classroom.

Tune in each Monday for a new episode that will equip you with essential strategies and motivation to approach your week with confidence and enthusiasm. Topics will include task box activities, social and emotional development, adaptive teaching, inclusive teaching, supporting diverse learners, classroom management, scheduling, visual aids, and more.

If you’re looking for more special education resources and support to increase student independence, check out Lisa's FREE training.