Are you looking for ways to teach students to behave appropriately while sitting at their desk? If so, keep reading.
1. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. • Raise your hand. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.
2. Converse with the student to explain (a) what they are doing wrong (e.g., tipping chair) and (b) what they must be doing (e.g., sitting with all chair legs on the floor).
3. Provide a predetermined signal (e.g., give a hand signal, ring a bell, etc.) when the student begins to behave improperly while seated.
4. Talk with the student to let them know what they are doing wrong, what they should be doing, and what the consequences are for unacceptable behavior.
5. Make sure that the chair or desk the student designated is appropriate and/ or comfortable for them (e.g., the desk is not too high, the chair is not too small, etc.).
6. Select various people (e.g., peer, paraprofessional, friend, etc.) to reinforce the student when they sit still.
7. Select a peer who has self-control. Urge the student to observe that person and try to model the behaviors that contribute to self-control.
8. Place the student away from peers to lessen the likelihood that the student will behave improperly while in their seat.
9. Refrain from seating the student near people with whom they may be enticed to converse during assemblies, seminars, group projects, etc.
10. Give the student a specific description of appropriate in-seat behavior (e.g., facing forward, feet on floor, back straight, etc.).
11. Move materials used for tactile stimulation (e.g., pens, paper clips, loose change, etc.) away from the student’s reach.
12. Draft an agreement with the student stipulating what behavior is required (e.g., behaving properly while seated) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.
13. Place the student near the teacher.
14. Explain to the student, after telling them to stop talking, the reason they should not be talking.
15. Remove any learning materials that the student uses to make noise while seated.
16. Do not criticize when correcting the student; be honest yet compassionate. Never cause the student to feel negatively about themselves.
17. Provide consistent expectations for the student to sit properly in their seat.
18. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
19. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
20. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.
21. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.
22. Consider using a socio-emotional learning app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
23. Consider using an emotional intelligence app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
24. Consider using a school counseling app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.
