Sometimes the best way to deal with student misbehavior is to ignore it.
When might it be best to ignore behavior?
- When the inappropriate behavior is unintentional or not likely to reoccur.
- When the student’s goal is to get attention through misbehaving.
- When ignoring it will decrease misbehavior by not reinforcing it.
- When it is out of your area of jurisdiction.
When is it best not to ignore behavior?
- When there is physical danger or harm to yourself, others, or the student.
- When a student disrupts the classroom through inappropriate behavior.
- When a student violates class or school rules.
- When the behavior interferes with the student’s or other students’ learning./li>
- When the inappropriate behavior will incite other students to join in.
- When other students reinforce the misbehavior by snickering, laughing, and otherwise giving positive – or even negative – feedback.
Excerpted from Paraprofessionals and Teachers Working Together by Susan Gingras Fitzell.