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Positive Action

Product or Programme · All products and programmes
Evidence · 6 claims (5 for, 1 against) · 1 study (1 causal), q3 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 6 claims rest on one study

Description

A K–12 curriculum developed and delivered by Positive Action, Inc. that uses scripted lessons and optional school, family, and community components to promote positive behavior, character development, academic achievement, and social-emotional skills.

Components

  • Positive Action K-12 character education curriculum: Positive Action is a K-12 program promoting "character development, academic achievement, and social-emotional skills" and reducing problem behavior, built on the philosophy that "you feel good about yourself when you think and do positive actions." The curriculum has six units (plus a review unit in some grades), with scripted lessons using "classroom discussion, role-play, games, songs, and activity sheets or text booklets." Elementary grades average 140 lessons taught four days a week; typical lessons last about 15 minutes. Optional components include site-wide climate development, drug education, conflict resolution, counselor/parent/family classes, and community components. (WWC Intervention Report: Positive Action (2007))
  • Positive Action whole-school program: structured lessons, teacher manuals, and parallel parent handbooks: Positive Action is a whole-school reform strategy intended to improve social-emotional, attendance, and achievement outcomes by building school climate, self-control, goal-setting, problem-solving, persistence, and other skills. Students learn through "structured discussions and activities, games, and role plays." Teachers receive detailed manuals supporting 140 lessons of 15-20 minutes per year, and parents receive handbooks paralleling the school lessons. No additional staff or technology are required. (Positive Action (2013))
  • Scripted lessons combining role-playing, cooperative learning games, small group activities, and classroom discussion: The program's lesson design pattern pairs fully scripted lessons with active, participatory methods. As the report describes, "All lessons are scripted and engage students through role-playing and cooperative learning games, small group activities, and classr oom discussions." Cooperative learning activities, role-playing, and skill building methods reinforce positive behaviors and skills and encourage students to apply them in other contexts. Lessons run 30-60 minutes in elementary school and 30-45 minutes in middle school. (What Works Clearinghouse (2006))

Claims

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Key Sources

  • WWC Intervention Report: Positive Action. (2007). What Works Clearinghouse, U.S. Department of Education. http://www.positiveaction.net
  • Positive Action. (2013). Positive Action. https://www.positiveaction.net
  • What Works Clearinghouse. (2006). WWC Intervention Report: Too Good for Violence. U.S. Department of Education. https://www.mendezfoundation.org
Page metadata
Field Value
type product
id positive-action
title Positive Action
description A K–12 curriculum developed and delivered by Positive Action, Inc.
status review
moved_from design/scripted-role-play-cooperative-learning-lessons, element/positive-action-curriculum-program, element/positive-action-program-element
product_kind curriculum
generated by process:sweep-kinds on 2026-10-10
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 3 — wwc-intervention-report-positive-action-2007, positive-action-2013, what-works-clearinghouse-2006

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