Let's Face It Now, Disruptive Behavior WILL HAPPEN!
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Yes, disruptive behavior, the bane of a teachers existence, always happens. How a teacher handles the situation will say leaps and bounds about them. Fortunately there are techniques to reduce and ideally eliminate these outbursts.
Clearly Communicate How Students Should Respond to Questions!
Canter (2007) states that many teachers make easy mistakes when it comes to this. Many teachers create a pattern of who they call on to answer questions and other students become compliant and no longer feel the need to try. But increasing student participation without interruption can be quite simple. Here are some ideas from Canter's Assertive Discipline:
Do not allow students to Shout Out answers: It is easy as instructing them to raise there hands by saying "When I ask for answers, I expect everyone will raise their hands and will not speak or make any noise until called on" (Canter 2007).
Have Students Track the Speaker: This can also be helped with a simple statement such as "When a fellow student is answering a question, I expect everyone will look at the student and silently follow his or her answer" (Canter 2007).
Have Students Speak in a Strong Voice: This is the best way to keep the rest of the class engaged. If fellow students can't hear their classmate they are more likely to slack off and get distracted. Quickly tell quiet students to use a "strong voice" or "speak louder so others can hear".
Direct Questions to the Entire Class: It can be tempting just to ask one student a question like "_____, what is the answer to this problem?". However, when a teacher does this, other students do not feel as strong of a need to pay attention and participate and go focusing on less academic things to even distracting behaviors (it's like letting them in their own widespread green zone!).
Randomly Call on Students: Call on students whether or not you can tell visually that they will have the answer. This will enforce in all students that anytime could be their turn! They will not expect you to call on the same people all of the time. Another way to be perfectly random is to invest in a "randomizer" application to help you select random names. There are some free ones in the itunes store for apple products. You can even pull names from a Jar to make it more random and fun!
Use Wait Time: This allows students to think and increases the amount of people who will be able to participate.
Ask for More Hands: This communicates that you want more participation (giving less goof off time!). Use phrases like "I'm waiting till I see at least 15 hands".
It is clear to see that all suggestions leave no room for slacking off because they involve the possibility of everyone being called on and increasing classroom participation.
Additional Ideas:
Teach with Enthusiasm!: If what a teacher is delivering is delivered in a manner that is dull and boring, students attention will be quickly lost to other things (Canter 2007). It is as easy as having vocal animation (as opposed to a monotone speaking habit), constantly varying the pace at which you speak, using eye contact, moving around the class, and gestures. The most effective teachers I have seen will clime on top of things, dance, shout, and more in order to get their lessons across. It is VERY effective in holding students attention (especially if the teacher varies what they do and students do not expect it!).
Teach at a Fast Pace!: One thing is for certain, staying on one subject for too long WILL bore students making them focus on different things, even if they want to learn! Consider a conversation, it always flows between subjects that are all weaved together somehow. That's how learning should be, new subjects coming at a fast yet comfortable pace that feels natural.
Engage Difficult Students!: Many teachers make the mistake of focusing on their more "successful" students because it is less frustrating. However, if "difficult" students are given the opportunity to be engaged they will feel more included, believe it or not, and with a caring teacher will show behavior improvements. Find a way to really care for the educational well-being of difficult students because if they see YOU care, they are more likely to care about themselves!
Clearly Communicate How Students Should Respond to Questions!
Canter (2007) states that many teachers make easy mistakes when it comes to this. Many teachers create a pattern of who they call on to answer questions and other students become compliant and no longer feel the need to try. But increasing student participation without interruption can be quite simple. Here are some ideas from Canter's Assertive Discipline:
Do not allow students to Shout Out answers: It is easy as instructing them to raise there hands by saying "When I ask for answers, I expect everyone will raise their hands and will not speak or make any noise until called on" (Canter 2007).
Have Students Track the Speaker: This can also be helped with a simple statement such as "When a fellow student is answering a question, I expect everyone will look at the student and silently follow his or her answer" (Canter 2007).
Have Students Speak in a Strong Voice: This is the best way to keep the rest of the class engaged. If fellow students can't hear their classmate they are more likely to slack off and get distracted. Quickly tell quiet students to use a "strong voice" or "speak louder so others can hear".
Direct Questions to the Entire Class: It can be tempting just to ask one student a question like "_____, what is the answer to this problem?". However, when a teacher does this, other students do not feel as strong of a need to pay attention and participate and go focusing on less academic things to even distracting behaviors (it's like letting them in their own widespread green zone!).
Randomly Call on Students: Call on students whether or not you can tell visually that they will have the answer. This will enforce in all students that anytime could be their turn! They will not expect you to call on the same people all of the time. Another way to be perfectly random is to invest in a "randomizer" application to help you select random names. There are some free ones in the itunes store for apple products. You can even pull names from a Jar to make it more random and fun!
Use Wait Time: This allows students to think and increases the amount of people who will be able to participate.
Ask for More Hands: This communicates that you want more participation (giving less goof off time!). Use phrases like "I'm waiting till I see at least 15 hands".
It is clear to see that all suggestions leave no room for slacking off because they involve the possibility of everyone being called on and increasing classroom participation.
Additional Ideas:
Teach with Enthusiasm!: If what a teacher is delivering is delivered in a manner that is dull and boring, students attention will be quickly lost to other things (Canter 2007). It is as easy as having vocal animation (as opposed to a monotone speaking habit), constantly varying the pace at which you speak, using eye contact, moving around the class, and gestures. The most effective teachers I have seen will clime on top of things, dance, shout, and more in order to get their lessons across. It is VERY effective in holding students attention (especially if the teacher varies what they do and students do not expect it!).
Teach at a Fast Pace!: One thing is for certain, staying on one subject for too long WILL bore students making them focus on different things, even if they want to learn! Consider a conversation, it always flows between subjects that are all weaved together somehow. That's how learning should be, new subjects coming at a fast yet comfortable pace that feels natural.
Engage Difficult Students!: Many teachers make the mistake of focusing on their more "successful" students because it is less frustrating. However, if "difficult" students are given the opportunity to be engaged they will feel more included, believe it or not, and with a caring teacher will show behavior improvements. Find a way to really care for the educational well-being of difficult students because if they see YOU care, they are more likely to care about themselves!
Spiritual Relevance
In times where bad behavior can happen it can be frustrating to find ways to move on. Below is a song by Kokua called Still that reminds us to remember God is with us and will carry us through. We can have the strength to make sure difficult situations are handled.