Are you looking ways to stop kids from wandering around the classroom needlessly? If so, keep reading.
1. Urge the learner to take part in high energy learning activities after school that let them release excess energy (e.g., racquetball, soccer, etc.).
2. Talk regularly with the learner to keep their attention on the learning experience (e.g., ask the learner questions, ask the learner’s opinion, stand near the learner, seat the learner near the teacher’s desk, etc.).
3. Urge the learner to avoid ingesting any substance (e.g., drugs, alcohol, cold remedies, etc.) that might further alter their capacity and ability to keep self-control.
4. Get the learner to chart the duration of time they can remain their seat without moving about unnecessarily.
5. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.
6. Create times when it is permissible for the learner to be out of their seat (e.g., leave their seat only to get a book, a drink of water, etc.).
7. Give the learner the most attractive and exciting learning activities possible.
8. Stay calm when the learner moves about unnecessarily. Calm behavior should have a calming effect on the learner.
9. Make sure the learner does not become involved in learning activities that may be overstimulating and cause the learner to move about unnecessarily.
10. Make sure that reinforcement is not provided for unacceptable behavior (e.g., paying attention to the learner only when they engage in excessive/unnecessary body movements).
11. Make sure the learner does not have a lot of unstructured time.
12. Give the learner frequent chances to participate, take turns, etc., to keep them involved in the learning experience.
13. Separate the learner from the peer who stimulates their unacceptable behavior.
14. Boost supervision (e.g., by teacher, peer, paraprofessional, etc.) of the learner when they are involved in learning activities that tend to cause them to move about unnecessarily.
15. Praise the learner for demonstrating physical self-control: (a) give the learner a concrete reward (e.g., classroom privileges, passing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the learner an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).
16. Give the learner a predetermined signal when they begin to leave their seat without permission.
17. Become proactive. Confer with the school counselor to design a schedule conducive to the learner’s success (e.g., physical education scheduled the last period of the day, intersperse electives that allow greater freedom of movement with classes requiring expanded periods of concentration, etc.).
18. Alter or eliminate situations at school that cause the learner to experience stress or frustration and may contribute to the learner moving about unnecessarily.
19. Provide the learner a special signal when they are moving about necessarily (e.g., a secret word, a hand signal, etc.).
20. Refrain from placing the learner in situations that require sitting for an expanded duration of time such as lectures, seminars, etc. Give the information for the learner through a recording or lecture notes.
21. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
22. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
23. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.
24. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.