Managing disruptive student behavior in the TEFL classroom.
Table of Contents
Addressing disruptive behavior
Behavior management strategies.
Types of disruptive behavior.
Teachers may have different thresholds for what they consider to be disruptive, but certain behaviors universally disrupt classroom dynamics and should be addressed to optimize learning.
Minor Disruptions:
- Slouching or poor posture
- Inappropriate laughter
- Wearing unsuitable clothing or accessories
- Displaying rebellious or bored expressions
- Gazing out the window
- Doodling during lessons
- Using impolite language
These actions, while not severe, may conflict with school rules or irritate teachers enough to warrant intervention.
Moderate disruptions
These behaviors may not cause major disruptions but can impede class progress and affect other students:
- Playing practical jokes
- Making distracting noises
- Speaking their native language instead of English
- Deliberately working slowly
- Skipping homework
- Making rude sounds
- Not paying attention
- Cheating in games
- Not following instructions
- Talking out of turn
Severe disruptions
These behaviors significantly disrupt the classroom and must be addressed immediately to maintain order:
- Defying the teacher's instructions
- Cheating on tests
- Making hurtful comments
- Using profanity
- Vandalism
- Fighting
- Threatening violence
Addressing disruptive behavior
Prompt action is crucial to establish what is acceptable. Ignoring disruptive behavior can exacerbate the issue and harm the learning environment. The severity of the punishment should match the behavior to ensure fairness and effectiveness.
Possible sanctions, from least to most severe:
- Disapproving look
- Raise hands for silence
- Countdown from 5 to 0
- Deduct team points
- Call out the misbehaving student
- Move the student away from peers
- Rearrange classroom seating
- Disqualify from a game
- Point to the door as a warning
- Transition to written work
- Talk to the student after class
- Send the student out for 5 minutes
- Inform the head teacher
- Contact the student's parents
Encouraging good behavior
Positive reinforcement can deter disruptive behavior. Schools may have systems in place, or teachers can implement their own rewards, such as:
- Award extra points to well-behaved teams
- Maintain team consistency with prizes for winners
- Use wall charts with stickers for good behavior
- Praise students verbally
- Highlight the best student or team
- Applaud good performance
- Use positive gestures (thumbs up, etc.)
- Assign class captain roles
- Distribute badges for achievements
- Reward good behavior with a favorite game
- Hand out small prizes or treats (if allowed)
Behavior management strategies.
To promote good behavior and minimize the need for discipline, consider these strategies:
- Be consistent with rules and expectations
- Clearly communicate what constitutes good and bad behavior
- Wipe the slate clean after a student is punished
- Model the behavior you expect from students
- Teach a dedicated lesson on good behavior
- Use clear gestures and phrases for desired actions
- Play games that encourage good behavior
- Manage energy levels in the classroom
- Make lessons engaging and enjoyable
- Build rapport with students (e.g., find common interests, use nicknames, remember birthdays)
- Integrate behavior management into your lesson plans
- Understand why students misbehave and experiment with solutions
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