Case
Difficult Behavior

I have two students 8th grade who are inseparable, and all they do is talk while I am teaching. One student cares what I think about him and wants to succeed in school (student A), but the other student does not care to listen to the direction at all (student B). I sat these students at other ends of the classroom, but they always seem to find their way back to each other and start talking again. I told student A to get up and move if student B comes to sit with him in class, this seems to work but this has started to make Student B even more difficult in my classroom. Student B is becoming more upset with me and is starting to act out in class even more since he can not talk to his friend. What else can I do to keep these students motivated in my class?

Posted on: 10/08/18 | Views: 627
Solution #1
I would try to talk to student B on a more personal level instead of disciplining them maybe just talk to them and explain how it hurting their future and other students around them by not learning the content.

Yes! Pull the student aside and ask why they continue to talk.

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Solution #2
How much talking are you doing? If it's an hour long lecture, maybe you could restructure the class. Try turn-and-talks where students are allowed to talk and become engaged. The two friends may be good partners if they are working together academically. If this doesn't work, have a parent conference with Student B. A phone call home could help as well.
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Solution #3
Since Student B seems to giving you more trouble than Student A, I think that you should talk to this student about their behavior in the classroom. Maybe you and the student could work together to create an agreement where the student gets to sit next to their friend during specific times of the day or they can spend time together if their work gets done.
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Solution #4
Use their friendship as an incentive. If they sit for a certain amount of time and do their work, they'll be able to sit with each other or work together for the next assignment. Make them earn each other because that's what they really want.
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Solution #5
I have students like this all the time. The first thing I suggest is trying to build a repertoire with the students. This always makes them more apt to listen when you discipline them. Have firm expectations and unchanging consequences so they are not surprised when they receive punishment!
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Solution #6
The teacher should pull both students apart and talk to them privately. Instead of just discipling them, try to figure out the reason for there talkative attitude.
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Solution #7
Building a rapport with student B may help to motivate them to focus in class, as they will be able to see that you care about them and their academic success. Giving students the opportunity to work collaboratively would also give these students time to communicate but rather about academic information instead of off task information.
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Solution #8
I would try to rearrange the student desks into cluster seating and rotate assigned groups. That way student B does not feel singled out and it makes it harder for them to sit where they want.
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Solution #9
I think a possible solution could be to provide the all students with a brain break/ "chat time", maybe five minutes. That way, when it is time to learn , they are more able to refocus.
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Solution #10
This may be the only class that these students have together and the only opportunity to talk to each other. You could allow the students to quietly converse with each other after both of them have completed the lesson for the day. As long as they finish their work and arent distracting the other students it might prevent disruption.
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