Prosocial Development & Educational Research | A prosocial classroom is one where students are helpful, respectful, and cooperative with each other.

The Power of a Prosocial Classroom

Educators of any grade level and any subject area can use practical Prosocial Ed strategies. We offer effective tools that help improve the classroom climate through positive teacher-student interactions.

Students feel greater belonging, are more engaged, and earn higher grades and test scores
Teachers feel greater job satisfaction, less burnout, and have more time to teach academic content

What is Prosocial Ed?

I like the research and information behind the strategies in the book. Sometimes the examples of behaviors are so spot on for some of my kids that I feel instantly validated and also want to try out the strategies.
By focusing on the student and not the behavior, it has helped me make closer connections with my students, which has resulted in better classroom management.
I have written less office referrals than any other time in my career.
Giving praise has spread widely in my classroom so much so that my students are giving each other praise on their own.
The moments when I have taken the time to praise a student, I’ve noticed a difference in their behavior afterwards. They have been kinder, better listeners, and helpful.
The most successful thing I have tried is negotiation. I have used it with one special education student who repeatedly gets angry. Negotiation has changed the way he approaches me when it comes to being immediately defiant as he has in the past. I feel like it was a miracle breakthrough with this student!
[I am] trying to get kids to think about positive self-talk, not letting [them] talk about themselves saying ‘I’m dumb’ or ‘I can’t do this.’ Now, I hear them say, ‘hey we don’t talk like that.’
So I think doing this [PD] made me really look at myself as an educator. I want to ensure that I’m portraying [myself] in a way that the kids are going to want to follow suit.
I thought it was better than most PDs…you felt like you were…in the trenches with everyone else. And you realized, ‘hey my situation isn’t any different’. And then you learn from other people’s situations.
I am actively implementing Prosocial Ed strategies in all my classes. It is very helpful for me and helps keep me calm. Thank you so much for continuing research into prosocial behavior in the classroom. I am a big advocate.
It has been easier for me to build relationships with students. Feeling more like it is ok to be an open and honest communicator as to decisions made and the reasoning behind them. Telling students it is ok that we make mistakes with learning and behavior because we are always working to be better and make better choices next time.
I love using the ‘gentle nag’ approach. A lot of the students consider me as a mother figure, so this approach works well for some of them.
By establishing the prosocial community building at the beginning of the school year, I have been able to jump into content a lot faster. I’m spending less time correcting individuals.

Group Of Children And Teacher Playing With Rainbow Playground Parachute On Green Grass. Summer Camp Activity

Our Approach

Prosocial Education refers to educators intentionally helping students become kinder with each other and more engaged in learning at school. We focus on 4 strategies, which we call the pillars of prosocial education: Inductive Discipline, Praise, Teacher-Student Relationships, and Emotionally Upbeat classrooms.

Why Prosocial Ed?

The Prosocial Pulse

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Authoritative Style

Parenting, Teacher-Student Relationships,

Research suggests that the way you interact with your students may be more important in promoting morality than a moral education program. Specifically, an “authoritative teaching style.” (The same is true of parenting style). Authoritative teachers are democratic and allow verbal give-and-take with students, including discussing moral issues. They…

Case Study – Class Dynamics

Case Studies,

8th grade Career Exploration class, most are at or below grade level, limited parent involvement. The social dynamics of a few groups impacts the entire class. 4 boys feed off one another, disruptive. Ringleader is intelligent, humorous, and social. 4 girls are a giggly clique, laughing at inside jokes,…

Evidence Based Research & Results

ProsocialEd strategies were developed and studied by the nation’s premiere Prosocial Development & Education Research Lab at the University of Missouri (MU). Based on 50 years of developmental psychology research, we show that how adults interact with children influences their development of self-control, empathy, and prosocial behavior.

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