Disruptive
A student who is disruptive may...
- be seeking attention
- be hiding or covering up a skill deficit
- be bored in class
- be impulsive
- blurt or interrupt
- fidget or sow excessive movement
- make noises
- be "surprised" by information or expectations
- bother others
When supporting a student who is disruptive, some general strategies involve
- focus on reinforcement of preferred/positive behavior
- talk to the student in private
- engage the student in a productive/novel role during instruction
- provide movement breaks/take a break from the task at hand
- reconsider seating arrangements
Interventions may include
- use a token system with cost response
- "flip" reward time to the beginning of a segment to prevent disruption in lesson
- support skill deficits
- find time to build in individual attention
- frequently teach and review rules and expectations
- intentionally prepare for transitions or changes
Literature Links
Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne Jones
What Were You Thinking by Bryan Smith
What if Everybody Did That by Ellen Javernick
Mrs. Gorski, I Think I Have the Wiggle Fidgets by Barbara Esham
Be Where Your Feet Are by Julia Cook
Decibella and Her Six Inch Voice by Julia Cook
It's Hard to be a Verb by Julia Cook
Teacher Readings
Motivating Defiant and Disruptive Students to Learn by Rich Korb
Difficult Students and Disruptive Behaviors in the Classroom by Vance Austin