How to Deal With Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom

Deal with disruptive behavior quickly to move on with your lesson.

A teacher's job is not easy, but dealing with disruptive behavior is especially difficult. When you have to act both as instructor and classroom manager, it is tough to reprimand a student and continue teaching. Stay calm and address the situation immediately any time you have a disruptive student or a student conflict. Often, disruptive students simply want attention and don't realize that they are holding up the classroom and distracting their peers from the lesson.

Instructions

1. Stress the importance of positive and polite behavior in your classroom. Write and explain clear rules or policies on classroom etiquette. Let your students know what you expect of them. For younger students, promote good behavior by offering rewards for well-behaved children.

2. Design a seating chart for your students so there is no argument over seats. As the semester develops, change to seating arrangement to keep close friends or rivals away from each other so there will be less chance of disruptive behavior.

3. Stop disruptive behavior as soon as it starts. Call the disruptive student out on his actions and ask him to be quiet so the class can continue. If it continues, present an ultimatum. Tell him he'll have to leave the classroom or see the disciplinarian if he doesn't behave correctly.

4. Separate students who have a dispute or confrontation. Keep the conflict from developing into a fight. Follow your school's procedures on fights. Send them to the principal's office separately or call someone for help if you cannot stop them.

5. Maintain eye contact with disruptive students while you speak to them. Step close to the specific student's desk so she realizes the importance of the situation.

6. Apologize to the class for the disruption and continue with class.

Tips & Warnings

• If a student has a problem with what you're teaching or what the class is working on, explain the importance of the lesson and the reasoning behind it.

References

• Teacher Vision: Behavior Management Resources
• Illinois State University Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology: Dealing with Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom
• The National Teaching and Learning Forum: Strategies for Dealing with Troublesome Behaviors in the Classroom