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How to Deal With Disruptive Students

Know Your Students

Key to assisting a child in changing behavior is knowing the child's background and home life. Make the effort to call home and invite the parents to come to meet you. If they cannot come or are unwilling to come, talk to them on the phone. Begin the conversation with something positive you know about this child. The parents may have never heard a good word about their child and you will put them at ease. This may help to open lines of communication. If possible, you want the family to work with you. Talk about your goals for their child and your eagerness to work with them. Don't be discouraged with the initial communication. They may be hesitant at first, but your persistence through calls, meetings and positive notes sent home will hopefully lead them to trust you. If there is no phone, mail letters to them. Find every way possible to keep the lines of communication open. Persistence is key to the success of this effort.

Take time to find out what this student likes, hobbies, talents, and other information and you can use to communicate with this student. You can use an informal inventory for your entire class and not let the student know that the focus is on him/her. This is a great way to get to know your class. This will also help you in motivating the student to want to learn. You can choose books that are of interest to the student to improve reading or simply get him/her to begin reading. If the student is a non-reader, have a volunteer or aide sit and read to the student. Listening is an important skill that is needed in all aspects of learning. The student must believe that you care and one means of displaying this is to know more about him/her.

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