How to handle a disruptive student

So many variables

First, who is being disrupted?

Are they disrupting you, or disrupting their table group, or disrupting only one other student.

Be patient. Evaluate. Sometimes simply changing proximity alleviates the disruption

What if I’m at my computer directing a lesson?

Be patient. It may well be worth the pause in the lesson to physically move towards the disruption to address the moment.

In all cases of addressing classroom disruptions:

– (1) Stay controlled

– (2) Be brief

– (3) Be concise

– (4) Address the specific behavior

– (5) Use the pause for effect

1. Stay controlled.

I didn’t say don’t be angry. Anger may be an appropriate response. For anger/emotion to be an effective response, it must be controlled.

2. Be brief

Thinking branding in advertising. The shorter the message, the more memorable and the more likely to be effective long term.

3. Be concise

Be in that moment. Address what moment was disrupted; what the focus should be on.

4. Address the specific behavior

Speak directly to the behavior, what they did/did not do. How was it negatively impacting the educational moment.

5. Use the pause for effect

If you going to take time to address a behavior that cannot be extinguished non-verbally, make it a teachable moment for all. Pause between stopping the lesson and addressing the behavior. Pause between sentences you speak, let each word be processed and valued. Pause before returning to the lesson, and thank those positively participating for their patience in that moment.

So much more for me to say about this.

I appreciate all questions and comments.