Classroom Management Series #1: Students talking when not supposed to

Raise your hand if you have perfect students, students who NEVER talk when you or someone else is talking.  … No one?  Me neither.  That is a struggle that I feel like every teacher has dealt with at one point or another. 

What does “talking when not supposed to”: mean?

1. Talking to another student when you are giving instructions or presenting the lesson
2. Talking to another student or you when they are doing individual work
3. Talking during a test
4. Talking to someone when another students is answering, giving presentation, or asking a question

Students talk when they are asked not to because of many reasons.

• The student is bored
• The student doesn’t understand so they are asking
• The student did not hear you giving the instructions (the class was noisy when you started)

Please remember to not only use the solutions mentioned below, but always talk with repeat defenders (students who are consistently misbehaving) to find the root of the problem.  

Students that are talking when they are not supposed to are:

• Talking to the students next to them or across the room
• Talking to you when you are presenting the lesson
• Calling out answers or questions 
• Talking to themselves

Below are some solutions (divided into the two categories) that readers, teachers at conferences, reference books, and I have come up with.  

Don’t forget to fully explain your expectations of these solutions to your students and BE CONSISTENT! 

Preventive Solutions:

• Include "no talking while others are talking" rule in your classroom rules

• If it is one students that is repeatedly talking, make a signal that only you and the student know 

• Give a repeat defender a set number of words he is allowed to say each class
• Give students a time limit to complete tasks
• Assign seats to students and sit them away from their friends
• If working in groups, give each student a job 

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Responsive Solutions:

• Stand by their desk but keep teaching or explaining
•  Touch their shoulder or desk without saying anything
• Stop talking and wait for the whole class to be quiet before talking
• Using tally marks or a chart, count how many times students talk and show them in a quick conference
• Have the talkative student sit separate from the class and/or near you
• After class, ask the talkative student if they know they are interrupting class and if they have any solutions 

You will probably have to try multiple tips for each student until you find one that works for you and your class.  Remember to try to find the reason, explain your expectations, and be consistent!  

Next week's question: What do you do when students are using their cell phones in class? 

Classroom Management Series #1: Defining some terms

We are starting a series on classroom management, where every Wednesday we will address behavioral problems that typical classrooms have. 

Before we get into this week’s topic, we need to talk about a few things.  What does classroom management mean?  What are these solutions?  How can I implement them into my own classroom?

Let’s start with defining a few things. Classroom management means

1.    The process of making certain that lessons run smoothly despite disruptive behavior by students.

2.    The prevention of disruptive behavior.

Well, what is disruptive behavior then?  Disruptive behavior is students actions that get in the way the ability of teachers to teach and students to learn. 

What are some examples of disruptive behavior?

• Talking when the teacher or others are talking
• texting or playing on their cell phones
• Using profanity
• Entering class late or leaving early
• Eating in the classroom 
• Calling out
• Constant entering and leaving the classroom (students going to the bathroom, students getting drinks of water)
• Getting out of their seat frequently with or without permission
• Disruptive noises
• Verbally harassment of others (name calling, mimicking, taunting)
• Physical harassment of others (poking, pinching, punching, kicking, stealing

Our solutions (yes, remember you are offering tips as well) will be complied into two lists.  The lists will be divided up as preventive solutions and responsive solutions. 

Preventive solutions are solutions to put into place before students do the behavior.  
Such as have the classroom rules and consequences displayed. 

Responsive solutions are solutions to stop the behavior immediately. 

Such as moving the student who is talking away from the rest of the class. 

The last thing you need to know is that you must experiment.  What works for one teacher, class, or student doesn’t work for everyone.  Pick one or two solutions and use them for a week. 

In order for this to be most successful, you should explain your expectations to your students beforehand, provide good and bad examples, post your expectations or rules in the classroom for all students to see, and be consistent.  

Now, don’t forget to check back EVERY Wednesday for solutions and to answer the next week’s question!  

Leave any solution tips you have for tomorrow's question:  What do you do about students who talk when others are talking?  

Classroom Management Series #1

If asked to describe my perfect class, I would say:

• lesson plan and materials are prepared
• I was able to greet students at the door
• class started on time 
• students followed rules and participated!
• students understood the material 

I ask teachers this question at the start of every classroom management workshop I do.  Most every teacher mentions the students behaving as part of their perfect class.  When asked what is the hardest part of their perfect class, teachers normally say the students behavior.  

This series on classroom management will focus on the students' behavior.  Every Wednesday, we will conquer student discipline problems.  That's right!  We, as in you AND me, will be tackling those issues such as students talking when they should NOT, cell phone usage in class, interrupting, etc.  

Each Wednesday, I will post a student behavior we want to address and your tips.  Tips I gather from my readers, tips from the teachers at the classroom management workshops, tips from books, and my own experience.  

How will I get my readers' tips?  I will post the next week's question at the end of that day's post, and the readers will leave their tips in the comment section.  Like this: 

How do you handle students who talk when they are not supposed to?  Please leave your tips in the comment box below!  

Please check back THIS WEDNESDAY to see your's and other's tips for handling this discipline problem.