In Depth Look:

Effective Responses to Problem Behavior

Brief, concise, calm and planned

Slow down the response: Regulate, reflect and then respond

"Don't just do something...stand there." ~Susan Barrett

Praise Other Students

Description

  • Praise students meeting the expectation
  • Praising other students serves as a prompt

Example

Teacher is praising students for having their materials and being ready for class.  One student was not ready, but when he heard the specific praise, the student got his/her notebook and returned to  his/her desk.

Non-Example

“Thanks for being quiet at Table 1, maybe  Table 2 will get quiet too.”

Video

Reteach

Description

  • Re-teach the student the expectation
  • Tell, show and give the student an immediate opportunity to practice
  • Recognize the student for following the expectation

Example

The teacher initially asked the students to read silently.  They began to talk with each other and the teacher restated the expectation, reminding students that they were to read silently.

Non-Example

“We just went over this. Do I need to say it again?”

Video

Engagement Strategies

Description

  • Use engagement strategies to re-engage the student in instruction
  • Provide students with an opportunity to respond: Verbal, written or action

Example

A teacher notices two students are talking to each other and one student with his/her head down during whole group instruction.  Teacher adjusts instruction to include a choral response to engage the whole class.

Non-Example

Lecturing from the front of the class; teacher talk is 80-100% of the time.

Video

Proximity

Description

  • Strategic placement and movement
  • Encourage positive behavior
  • Discourages inappropriate behavior

Example

As the teacher is teaching, some students at one of the tables are off task and not following along. Without stopping instruction, the teacher walks over to the students and stands near them. They get back on track.

Non-Example

Staying at teacher desk; calling out students from across the room.

Video

Attend, Wait and Praise

Description

  • Similar to the Zig Zag Method by Sprick
  • Delay response/correction
  • Praising other students seres as a prompt
  • Allows student to correct themselves
  • Desired behavior=Attention and praise

Example

Student is off task, ignore him/her and tell the student next to him/her how well he is doing on the task.  When student gets on task, praise that behavior.

Non-Example

Redirecting the student immediately when you see problem behavior occur.  “Johnny, remember it’s responsible to get back on task.”

Video

Provide Instructional Choice

Description

  • Provide students two alternatives
  • Adult is ok with both choices
  • On choice is more preferred by the student
  • Non-punitive
  • Think about ways to adjust or alter the task

Example

Give option to:

  • Complete the evens or odds/front or back
  • Use pencil or pen for the next activity
  • Work with a partner or the teacher

Non-Example

“You can do your work now or at recess.”

Video

Private Redirect

Description

  • Brief, clear, private verbal reminder of the expected behavior
  • Re-state expectation
  • Kind, quick and calm

Example

Teacher stops to talk with a student who is drawing on the desk instead of working on the task. The teacher privately reviews what the student can do when unsure of how to get started, then moves on.

Non-Example

Publicly redirect in front of others to put cell phone away during class.

Video

Nonverbal Cue

Description

  • Non-verbal, non-aversive techniques
  • Teacher is aware of the behavior and prepared to intervene (if necessary)
  • Praise the student when he/she is following the expectation

Example

As the teacher is going over the objectives, he notices a student who is off-task.  While continuing to teach, he redirects the student by pointing tot he Chromebook and then the classroom screen.

Non-Example

Glaring look at the student

Video