Are you looking for strategies to help students who act impulsively? If so, keep reading.
1. Minimize the chance to act impulsively by limiting decision-making. As the student shows success, slowly increase chances for decision-making.
2. Give the student a routine (schedule) to be followed when making decisions (e.g., place a list of decision-making strategies on the student’s desk).
3. Provide visibility to and from the student. The teacher and the student should be able to see each other at all times. Make eye contact possible at all times.
4. Make sure you are regularly in proximity to the student.
5. Assign additional duties to the student (e.g., chores, errands, etc.) to give them a feeling of success or accomplishment.
6. Stop the student from becoming overstimulated by a learning experience(e.g., monitor or supervise student behavior to limit overexcitement in physical learning activities, games, parties, etc.).
7. Give the student sufficient time to perform learning activities to lessen their impulsive behavior.
8. Provide supervision at all times and in all areas of the school environment.
9. Show the student that they should be happy with personal best effort rather than expecting perfection.
10. Give the student clear, simply stated explanations and instructions so that they know what is expected.
11. Support the student in beginning each task to lessen impulsive responses.
12. Get a peer to work with the student to model deliberate and responsible behavior in academic and social settings.
13. Minimize distracting stimuli(e.g., place the student on the front row, give a carrel or quiet space away from distractions, etc.). This should be used as a way to lessen distractions, not as a punishment.
14. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
15. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.
16. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
17. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
18. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
