Highly effective teachers know how to stop most disruptions without having to stop their instruction. They achieve this by using a variety of small yet powerful techniques. Listed below are just a few examples:
- Build positive relationships immediately
- Look at the misbehaving student, smile, and shake your head, indicating, NO
- Use projection technology instead of whiteboards, so that your back is not turned from your students
- Wander toward the location of the disruption as you continue teaching. Body proximity is a valuable intervention.
- Call on the misbehaving student with a question what will make him feel valued.
- Send the student on a ‘therapeutic errand.’ (To redirect the energy)
- Stand very close to the misbehaving student and continue teaching.
- Stop very briefly and whisper something to the student like, “Can you save that for later?, thanks.”
- Hand the student a small note that states, “Please stop talking. Thanks! ☺”
- Teach with plenty of incomplete sentences and questions to keep the students engaged.
- Give each of your students responsibility for teaching a part of the lesson.
- While continuing to teach, place your hand gently on the student’s shoulder.
- Use enforceable statements (ex: “I allow student to stay with the group when they are not causing a problem.”)
*Taken from The Love and Logic Institute, Inc. for more information visit www.loveandlogic.com
