What Are Low-Intensity Strategies?
Low-intensity strategies are research-based practices that can be used by any educator or family member and require minimal time and effort to implement.
These strategies are designed to:
- Promote student engagement
- Prevent behaviors that impede instruction
- Support positive learning environments across settings
Examples of low-intensity strategies include behavior-specific praise, instructional choice, and precorrection.
Low-intensity strategies are flexible and can be used in multiple ways within a Ci3T model:
- As practices to support Tier 1 instruction, by creating engaging and interactive lessons that anticipate students’ needs and reinforce learning behaviors
- To strengthen Tier 1, by increasing engagement and reducing behaviors that impede instruction (e.g., when more than 20% of students need more than Tier 1 has to offer)
- As a standalone Tier 2 support, when used more intentionally or frequently for a specific student
- As components of Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions, where they are applied in targeted ways to support skill acquisition and/or increase rates of reinforcement
Key Strategies
There are seven key low-intensity strategies. Each has an accompanying infographic outlining a step-by-step process to implement that strategy.
Active Supervision
Active supervision includes intentional, visible actions educators use to promote engagement and prevent problems before they occur. This can include frequently scanning and moving intentionally throughout the environment.
Behavior-Specific Praise
Behavior-specific praise statements clearly acknowledge a desirable behavior a person is demonstrating. This strategy can be used to reinforce schoolwide behavior expectations for individual students or groups during academic and non-academic activities.
High-Probability (High-P) Requests
High-p requests involve asking students to complete two to three behaviors they are likely to do (high-probability requests) before making a more challenging request (low-probability request). This strategy builds behavioral momentum and increases the likelihood of compliance.
Instructional Choice
Instructional choice involves offering students meaningful options throughout the instructional day. Offering choice can increase engagement, autonomy, intrinsic motivation, and cooperation without sacrificing instructional goals.
Instructional Feedback
Instructional feedback provides specific information to help students refine understanding, confirm accuracy, or correct misconceptions.
Opportunities to Respond
Opportunities to respond involve providing frequent chances for students to practice skills at their instructional level or demonstrate understanding within a short time period. This may include choral responding, thumbs up/down, response cards, personal whiteboards, clickers, think-pair-share, or similar methods.
Precorrection
Precorrection is a proactive reminder of expectations given before an activity or transition. Precorrection helps set students up for success and reduces the likelihood of problem behavior.
Ci3T Modules on Low-intensity Strategies
Ci3T Modules offer in-depth professional learning. Explore these featured modules, or browse the full collection.
Data Tools & Templates
Low-intensity strategies are most effective when implemented using a data-informed approach, especially when used to strengthen Tier 1 or as part of Tier 2 or Tier 3 interventions.
Each low-intensity strategy includes:
- An implementation steps checklist
- A social validity form
- A treatment integrity checklist
- Additional resources unique to each strategy
These tools help educators implement strategies consistently and reflect on effectiveness.
Dive Deeper
Ready to take the next step with Low-intensity Strategies? Explore the resources below based on your goals.