Are you dealing with disruptive behavior that is leaving you frustrated and not sure how to move forward? Do you want to achieve a calm, productive learning environment this week?
There is no time like the present to get started, but sometimes feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start can hold you back.
Consider me your unicorn teacher godmother!
With the 5 actionable classroom management strategies in this post, you’ll be on your way to effectively dealing with disruptive behavior by next week!
Hint: Hidden in the depths of this post, you may find a bit of freebie bonus content to help you on your journey. Here’s the first one: Access my free mini video training on understanding challenging behavior now
#1: Use Assigned Seating and Proximity
Do you ever start teaching a lesson, ready to facilitate some new learning, only to realize that you need to stop whatever you’re doing because some of your students are not on-task?
Whether you’re providing direct instruction or setting up small group work, your first step should always be intentionally setting up the environment for success.
This starts with seating students in ways that allow you to monitor them, quickly address disruptions, and create a structured classroom environment.
Angela Watson of the 40-Hour Teacher Workweek has a brilliant article on arranging classroom seating. Check it out here.
We often underestimate the power of proximity. Seating disruptive students closer to the front of the class can reduce their opportunities for off-topic conversations or behavior. Rearrange seating to ensure that disruptive students are positioned close to the front. You’ll notice an immediate improvement in their engagement.
You can also use progressive proximity strategies to deter disruptive behavior using physical distance and non-verbal cues.
When you notice disruptive behavior, begin with a non-verbal cue from a distance. Maintain eye contact with the student and use a subtle signal, like a raised eyebrow, finger to the lips, or simple hand gesture. The goal is to alert the student to their behavior without interrupting the entire class.
If the behavior persists, gradually move closer to the student, continuing to use eye contact and non-verbal cues. Stand next to the student while continuing to teach or monitor the rest of the class.
If the student still doesn’t respond to the cues, lightly place a hand on the student’s shoulder. Or provide a quiet verbal reminder or redirection. Speak softly and calmly, addressing the specific behavior you want to change.
The goal is to maintain a calm demeanor, guiding the student back to appropriate behavior.
#2: Quiet Signals for Success
One of my favorite strategies is introducing quiet signals and giving students ample wait time. I find it helps me get on top of creating a respectful and thoughtful classroom atmosphere.
You’ve probably heard of quiet before and they’re easy enough to do, but it isn’t always something you can really excel at without guidance.
Quiet signals, like raising a hand, are a gentle way to remind students to remain quiet during instruction. Wait time gives students the space to process questions and respond thoughtfully, reducing the urge to blurt out answers or comments.
You can find a more in-depth look at this blog post.
Incorporating quiet signals and wait time into your classroom management toolkit can be a gamechanger. These techniques offer a non-confrontational and respectful way to address disruptive behavior.
Wait time fosters thoughtfulness and inclusivity in the classroom. It’s a patient approach that ensures every student, regardless of their processing speed, has an opportunity to participate. It is also an opportunity for you, as the teacher, to model patience and active listening, setting a positive example for your students.
The beauty of quiet signals lies in their universal application – once students understand the cues, the signals can be applied in various situations. These signals encourage active listening and engagement, reminding students to maintain a respectful and attentive learning environment.
Hint: Teach students the meaning of your quiet signal and practice using it during lessons.
#3: Redirection and Choice
When you’re a teacher, getting caught up in power struggles over disruptive behavior can be easy.
So rather than something you can do, here’s something you should quit doing: stop engaging in confrontation with your students. Doesn’t it feel good to permit yourself to do that?
Now that you’ve let that go, shift your approach to calmly redirecting the student’s attention back to the lesson.
Here are some redirection strategies to try:
- Questioning: Pose a thought-provoking question related to the lesson to re-engage the student.
- Interactive task: Assign the student a task that requires participation, like leading a discussion or demonstrating a concept.
- Peer assistance: Encourage the student to collaborate with a responsible classmate who can guide them back to the task.
- Mini-goals: Break down the assignment into smaller, manageable goals and encourage the student to focus on completing one part at a time.
- Brain breaks: Allow short breaks for physical activity or relaxation to recharge the student’s focus.
- Visual prompts: Use visuals or props to illustrate the topic and reignite interest.
Think about how you can offer choices in the assignments aligned with your lessons to better engage students. Offering choices empowers students, making them more engaged and motivated to learn. This not only improves their behavior, but also enhances academic performance.
By adopting these strategies, you’ll move from spending time and energy on power struggles to your work of teaching.
If you want to explore these strategies further, why not have a look at this blog post on how these approaches also support culturally responsive teaching?
#4: Behavior Contracts
Grab your favorite school-appropriate beverage and talk about the disruptive behavior with the student. Discuss how the behavior is impacting their learning.
Sometimes getting their perspective on their behavior is just the thing you need to set the tone for a successful behavior contract.
Don’t be shy, share your observations and concerns with the student.
Giving voice to these concerns will help you both gain clarity around the disruptive behavior and establish specific goals for improvement. In addition, you’ll be able to build a stronger teacher-student relationship.
But if you avoid addressing the disruptive behavior, you’ll only prolong the problem and show other students that you’re willing to allow it to continue.
Behavior contracts outline clear expectations, specific assignments, deadlines, and consequences for non-compliance.
Why does this work? It helps students connect their actions to the outcomes they face, and gives them a roadmap for better performance.
If you don’t know how to approach such a conversation, remember I’m available for exchanging ideas over on Facebook. You can also go on the hunt for the perfect teacher buddy and create your own support system.
If that sounds good, here’s how to get started:
Step #1: Initiate the conversation
Schedule a private and comfortable meeting with the student. Make it clear you want to discuss their behavior in a constructive and supportive way.
Step #2: Define clear expectations
Work together to define clear and specific expectations for behavior. Discuss the areas where improvement is needed and what positive behavior looks like. Make sure the expectations are realistic, considering the student’s abilities and needs.
Step #3: Establish goals and consequences
Set specific goals aligned to the expectations that the student can work toward. Outline the consequences for not meeting these goals, emphasizing that they are intended to help the student stay on track and succeed.
Be sure to keep communication open throughout the implementation of the contract and regularly review the contract to make any needed adjustments along the way.
#5: Positive Reinforcement for Participation
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your classroom management is to focus on positive reinforcement.
Whether you’re recognizing a student for their excellent participation in a class discussion, or simply acknowledging their hard work and dedication, positive reinforcement can shape disruptive behavior into more positive engagement in the classroom.
I’m cheering you on during every step of implementing positive reinforcement in your teaching journey.
One middle school teacher I worked with had a student who consistently refused to do her assignments and actively resisted participating in class activities. The student often disrupted the class by chatting with classmates or simply disengaging.
My client decided to implement positive reinforcement to address the issue. She introduced a simple reward system where students earned participation points in Class Dojo for active involvement, completing assignments, and demonstrating positive behavior.
These points could be redeemed for small rewards like extra free time or choosing a fun classroom activity.
Whenever the student started participating in class discussions, worked on assignments, or refrained from disruptive behavior, the teacher made a point to praise her. My client acknowledged the student’s efforts, providing consistent and immediate feedback to reinforce that the student’s positive actions were recognized and valued.
Over time, the student noticed the positive attention and the rewards her classmates were earning for their participation. She became motivated to earn participation points as well. This increased her participation and boosted her confidence and self-esteem as she was rewarded with things she desired.
Thanks to the positive reinforcement, the student transitioned from a disruptive and disengaged student to an active participant in class.
Key Takeaways
I hope this post has given you a roadmap for some big wins this week. Some of these you may have tried and others will likely be new. Either way, there should be enough for you to dig in!
They don’t look so hard, do they? I kept #5 in there because I know you probably love positive reinforcement too.
As you implement strategies to encourage on-task behavior and support students in being accountable to classroom expectations, give yourself a well-earned, “I’m proud of you!”
What’s your favorite idea from the above? Drop me a comment below!
Remember, if you want to work with me on classroom management you can always reach me here. To support you in responding to challenging behavior, click the image below to learn more about my free video training. It is an incredibly helpful resource to help you identify the root causes of disruptive behavior!
