Are you looking for ways to encourage students to exhibit acceptable behavior in large groups? If so, keep reading.
1. Give the learner alternative ways to perform a group task and let them select the most desirable (e.g., a written paragraph task may be accomplished by writing a note to a friend, writing about a recent experience, describing a favorite pastime, etc.).
2. Let the learner take part in the large cooperative learning experience they prefer. As the learner experiences success, require them to take part in larger group learning activities.
3. Get the learner to participate in at least one large cooperative learning experience per day. As the learner shows success, slowly require the learner to take part in larger group learning activities.
4. Plan large group learning activities when the learner is most likely to be successful (e.g., before recess rather than immediately after recess, after the first individual task of the day has been finished to create productive behavior, etc.).
5. Plan alternative individual learning activities if the learner is unlikely to be successful (e.g., if the schedule has been changed; if holidays or special activities have stimulated the learner, making successful group interactions unlikely; etc.).
6. Let the learner join the group after the learning experience has begun if they are unable to 6 properly at the beginning of the learning experience.
7. Place the learner’s desk or work so that they work near other students but are not visually distracted by them (e.g., turn the learner’s desk away from other students).
8. Let the learner leave a cooperative learning experience and return to independent work when they can no longer be successful in the cooperative learning experience (e.g., as an alternative to disrupting the group, fighting, etc.).
9. Coordinate the learner’s seating so that you can interact with them regularly (e.g., near the front of the room, on the perimeter of the group, etc.).
10. Select a peer to sit/work next to the learner to assist.
11. Get the learner to keep a list of classroom rules at their desk (e.g., attached to the surface of the desk, inside the desk, etc.).
12. Utilize a “time-out” area to let the learner gain self-control if problem behaviors happen during a large academic cooperative learning experience.
13. Give a carrel or other quiet study area for the learner to use if they cannot be successful at their seat.
14. Utilize removal from the group as a natural consequence for unacceptable behavior.
15. Show academic tasks in the most attractive and exciting manner possible.
16. Integrate the learner into a large academic cooperative learning experience only after they have had success with one other learner, a small group, etc.
17. Integrate the learner into a large academic cooperative learning experience slowly (e.g., short periods with the group lead to longer periods).
18. Give the learner the chance to work with a peer tutor, volunteer, etc., for enrichment or support of content presented in the large academic cooperative learning experience.
19. Give structure so that the large academic cooperative learning experience does not become overstimulating for the learner.
20. Publicly praise the learner for appropriate behavior and privately redirect unacceptable behavior.
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.
