Are you looking for strategies to encourage students not to make inappropriate comments to peers ? If so, keep reading.
1. Embody using appropriate language at all times (e.g., use appropriate language to express disappointment, unhappiness, surprise, etc.).
2. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., communicating with other students in an appropriate manner) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met
3. Teach the student to respect others and their belongings by respecting the student and their belongings.
4. Refrain from arguing with the student.
5. Get the student to put themselves in the other student’s place (e.g., “How would you feel if someone called you dumb or stupid?”).
6. Refrain from confrontations with the student that lead to unacceptable behavior on the part of the student (e.g., give the student options for alternative tasks, other times to perform tasks, assistance in performing tasks, etc.).
7. Refrain from physical contact with the student who is likely to become orally abusive (e.g., a pat on the back may cause the student to argue, threaten, call names, curse, etc.).
8. Do not embarrass the student by giving them orders, requirements, etc., in front of others.
9. Provide visibility to and from the student. The teacher should be able to see the student; the student should be able to see the teacher. Make eye contact possible at all times.
10. Connect with parents (e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the student’s progress. The parents may reinforce the student at home for communicating appropriately with other students at school.
11. Show the student why making unacceptable remarks and unnecessary noises is not acceptable (e.g., impolite, might hurt others’ feelings, etc.).
12. Be firm, fair, and consistent with expectations and consequences of behavior.
13. Provide instructions in a compassionate rather than a menacing manner (e.g., “Please finish your math paper before going to recess.” rather than, “You had better finish your math paper or else!”).
14. Get the student to question any directions, explanations, and instructions not grasped.
15. Talk with the student about ways they could deal with unpleasant experiences that would typically cause them to use obscene language (e.g., talk to the teacher, go to a quiet area in the school, talk with a counselor, etc.).
16. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
17. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.
