Talking and Laughing During Instruction

Strategies to Consider:

Talking and laughing can be a good sign of a healthy child! While you might find it rather annoying, it is an inconsequential behavior. There are many remedies for this behavior. Remember not to act in a punitive spirit, but rather redirect this student's energies.

This could be a sign of too much down time or that the student is not interested in their work. Review the following supports.

  1. Pair planned ignoring with praise of students who are behaving appropriately.
  2. Review Rules and Expectations
  3. Reinforce student for demonstrating appropriate behavior.
  4. Speak to the student to explain what he is doing wrong and what he should be doing.
  5. Reinforce those students in the classroom who demonstrate appropriate behavior.
  6. Call on the student when he is most likely to respond successfully – when you are certain he knows the answer.
  7. Request the student be a leader of a group activity.
  8. Openly lay out choices and have the student be the one to choose.

Also consider:
Good Behavior Game
Precision Requests
Praise in the Classroom