So you can spend more time teaching

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 students 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