How to Trick Students into Behaving Well
- 1). Use logic. Ask the students to raise their hands if they want to go to detention, the principal's office, or if they want you to call their parents. When no one raises a hand (unless one trickster does, in which case, go promptly to your phone and dial his parents...I guarantee he will whip that hand back down!), tell them that you are very pleased that everyone has decided to follow the rules this year! After all, they have all just agreed not to misbehave.
- 2). Use the unexpected. When the class starts getting loud, walk to the front of the room and begin to whisper. Whisper a few commands, such as, "If you can hear me, place on hand on your desk." One at a time, the students will start to listen, and soon you will have an absolutely quiet classroom, and every student's attention - without bribery or punishment.
- 3). Show the students how much faith you have in them. Early in the year, find an excuse to leave them alone for a moment. Arrange for a parent or another teacher to ask you to step into the hallway. Tell them you feel perfectly fine leaving them alone for a little while to work quietly, because they are such a good class. After a minute or two, return and praise them lavishly for their good behavior. Chances are, the students will continue to work quietly while you are "gone," and they will eat up the praise!
- 4
Agree with the students. When they start to complain that math is boring, say something like, "You are right. Math can be very boring, but you have to learn it anyway, because it's important." Sometimes a bit of empathy from their teacher is all they need to behave. - 5). Let the students be the teacher. Ask the students what they want to learn about, and try to work it into the curriculum. Let them "teach" about something they are interested in. Most students have passions that they love to talk about! This can be a fun thing to do on Friday afternoons, and it will encourage ownership in the classroom and their own education.
