Characteristics of Disruptive Classroom Behavior
Disruptive classroom behavior hurts students and teachers. Kay Burke, an educational consultant, defines disruptive classroom behavior as any inappropriate student behavior. Students misbehave in an attempt to gain the recognition and acceptance they want.
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Types
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Burke breaks down the types of students to cause disruptive behavior. In "What To Do WIth The Kid Who," she states that 80 percent rarely break rules; 15 percent break rules on a regular basis; and 5 percent are chronic rule breakers and out of control most of the time.
Identification
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Burke identifies disruptive classroom behavior from small to large occurrences. Students talking when the teacher is talking, name-calling, fighting, arguing, throwing things, getting out of seats and eating or drinking are all disruptive behaviors.
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Expert Insight
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Burke adds that "ripple effect" often happens from other students and the teacher's reaction to the initial offense. If the students perceive the teacher as unfair, onlookers may become anxious, causing them to further disrupt. If the teacher is perceived as fair by other students, the initial disruption causes fewer subsequent distractions.
Significance
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A proactive teacher can control many disruptive behaviors, says Burke. Identifying at-risk students is key, as these students commit most disruptive behavior. At-risk students are unlikely to graduate from high school for a variety of reasons. These students struggle to fit in with the social structure of the class and will exhibit recurrent discipline problems.
Considerations
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Students with ADHD are often at-risk students. They may need multiple behavioral interventions so their behavior does not hurt their or other students' ability to learn according to "Reducing Disruptive Classroom Behavior With Multicomponent Intervention: A Literature Review." One form of an intervention helps students with ADHD, but multiple interventions will lead to better behavior and increased learning.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of rex pe
