Ep. 69: Catch Them First — 3 Proven Ways to Prevent Misbehavior Before It Starts

Every teacher has that moment when they realize—“ugh, I missed it.” The chance to redirect before things spiraled. In this week’s episode, Audra and Caitlin flip the classic “Catch Them Being Good” idea into something even more powerful: Catch Them First. They share three simple, proactive strategies you can use to prevent behavior issues before they happen—so you spend less time reacting and more time connecting.

🔑 Key Takeaways
• Catch Them First: Don’t wait for misbehavior—frontload support and reinforcement before problem moments arise.
• Prime Your Students: Use pre-corrections or positive greetings to set expectations early.
• Be Specific: Genuine, detailed praise helps students know exactly what behavior to repeat.
• Timing Is Everything: Immediate reinforcement makes connections stronger and behaviors stick.
• Small Wins Matter: Even subtle acknowledgments (“Great job being ready!”) build trust and consistency over time.

📦 Resources & Links
• Related Episode: Ep. 68: 5 Quick De-Escalation Tips for Teachers → https://abainschool.com/ep68yt
• Related Episode: Ep. 57: The Crisis Cycle → https://abainschool.com/ep57
• Free Visual: De-Escalation Strategy Visual → https://abainschool.com/mja5

🤝 Join Us
💬 Share what you “caught first” this week in our Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits
🎧 Subscribe on YouTube
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📢 Tag us when you try these proactive tips in your classroom—we love hearing your wins!

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😍 More, you say? We’re here for you!

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• Instagram | @‌themisfitbehaviorists
• YouTube | @‌themisfitbehaviorists

👋 Find us!

• Audra | ABA in School
• Caitlin | Beltran’s Behavior Basics
• Sami | B.A.S.S.

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